Physical therapy for migraine-related vestibulopathy and vestibular dysfunction with history of migraine

Objectives/Hypothesis: To assess the efficacy of physical therapy for patie nts with a diagnosis of migraine-related vestibulopathy (MRV) or vestibular dysfunction with a history of migraine headache. Study Design: Retrospecti ve case series Methods: Thirty-nine patients were identified through a retr ospective chart review, 14 with a diagnosis of MRV and 25 with migraine hea dache. The patients were treated with a custom-designed physical therapy ex ercise program for a mean of 4.9 visits over a mean duration of 4 months. P atients completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the Activities-Sp ecific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), and the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), re ported the number of falls they had experienced in the past 4 weeks, and ra ted the severity of their dizziness on an analogue scale of 0 to 100 at ini tial evaluation and at discharge. Results: Significant differences were see n before and after therapy in each of the outcome measures used. The averag e decrease in DHI score was 12 points (P < .01). ABC scores increased an av erage of 14 points (P < .01). Subjects increased their DGI scores an averag e of 4 points (P < .01). The number of patients reporting more than one fal l decreased by 78% at discharge. (P < .05). Baseline symptoms of dizziness decreased an average of 11 points (P < .05). Conclusions: Patients with MRV and migraine headache demonstrated improvement in physical performance mea sures and self-perceived abilities after vestibular physical therapy.