ORIGINAL PAPER
The efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction
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1
Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland
(Clinical Department of Otolaryngology)
2
Rehabilitation and Educational Center for Disabled Children in Jaworzno, Jaworzno, Poland
3
Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
(Institute of Sport Science)
Online publication date: 2020-03-26
Corresponding author
Anna Zwierzchowska
Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Institute of Sport Science, Mikołowska 72a, 40-066 Katowice, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(3):273-82
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: Vestibular rehabilitation leads to a gradual diminution of the subjective and objective symptoms that accompany the vestibular disorders.
The aim of the study was to compare the impact of 2 different types of vestibular rehabilitation on vestibular compensation in patients with chronic unilateral
vestibular dysfunction. Material and Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 58 subjects (43 females and 15 males) aged 40–64 years,
who presented with chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction and were hospitalized. The patients were randomly assigned to either of the 2 groups established.
The study was conducted in a 6-week period. Group 1 consisted of patients who underwent customized group vestibular rehabilitation in an
outpatient setting. The program was performed once a week for 1 h 30 min, under the supervision of a physiotherapist and a physiatrist. Group 2 was
instructed to perform Cawthorne–Cooksey exercises and simple balance exercises twice a day for 15 min. Results: An improvement in the outcomes of
the Dynamic Gait Index as well as the Berg Balance Scale was statistically significant for group 1. The time for fulfilling the task in the Timed Up and
Go Test improved in both groups (p < 0.05). The subjective estimation of the symptoms evaluated with the use of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory
and the Visual Analogue Scale revealed a statistically significant improvement in both groups, yet it was higher in group 1. Conclusions: The compensation
achieved after 6 weeks of the customized, supervised outpatient rehabilitation program in group 1 was superior to the results of the home-based
unsupervised Cawthorne–Cooksey and balance exercises. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2020;33(3):273–82