ABSTRACT

Aims: This study evaluated the effectiveness of supervised vestibular rehabilitation on disability and balance by comparing patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH) and bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH).

Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged 18-65 years diagnosed with chronic vestibular hypofunction and underwent a supervised vestibular rehabilitation program. We excluded patients with a history of central nervous system disease, central vestibular pathology, systemic disease, and neck disorders that may cause dizziness and balance disorders, psychiatric disease, cognitive disorder, visual dysfunction, and vestibular disorder with a fluctuating course. The outcome measures were the differences between the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) for disability and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) for balance-fall risk scores before and after the rehabilitation program in patients with UVH vs. BVH.

Results: The study included 24 UVH [age, mean±standard deviation (SD): 50.0±12.3 years, women: 75%] and 14 BVH patients (age, mean±SD age: 53.8±12.1 years, women: 64.3%). Baseline demographic characteristics, DHI and BBS scores were similar in the two groups. We observed improvements in DHI (UVH: 67.25±10.43 vs. 51.50±17.03, p˂0.05; BVH: 63.00±21.12 vs. 44.57±22.90, p˂0.05) and BBS [UVH: 49 (43.0-51.75) vs. 50.5 (44.75-52.75), p˂0.05; BVH: 42.07±9.35 vs. 47.86±6.65, p˂0.05] scores in the two groups after the rehabilitation program. On the other hand, there were no between-group differences in the changes in DHI (UVH: -15.75±13.28 vs. BVH: -18.43±15.79, p>0.05) and BBS [UVH: 2 (0-5) vs. BVH: 4 (1.0-9.25), p>0.05] scores.

Conclusions: This study found that a supervised 4-week vestibular rehabilitation program was similarly effective in chronic UVH and BVH in disability and balance improvement.