Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation on quality of life of patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) exercise of patients with uncompensated unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Materials and Methods: An intervention study was conducted on 20 patients their age ranging from 20 to 60 years. The main complaint of the participants was chronic dizziness (dizziness for >3 months). Dizzy patients were recruited from the Ear, Nose, and Throat department. The study was conducted in the audiovestibular unit. All participants in the study were subjected to basic audiological evaluation and vestibular evaluation (videonystagmography). The Dizziness handicap inventory questionnaire (DHI) was carried out twice (pre and post) rehabilitation program. The VR therapy was performed according to the protocol established by Cawthorne and Cooksey and Norre exercises. Results: All the DHI scores reduced significantly after VR. There were no differences among genders; adults and elderly patients. Conclusion: The result of this study proved the importance and the efficacy of VR. It considered a useful therapeutic approach for improvement in the quality of life of individuals with unilateral peripheral vestibular weakness. The improvement was not influenced by sex, age, or duration of disease. It considered a low-cost, short, and safe treatment technique which can be widely used in outpatients without the need for sophisticated tools.