Experiences with complex vestibular rehabilitation

Abstract

Introduction: Vestibular rehabilitation of patients suffering from balance disorders is a long and difficult process, the exact cause of therapeutic success or failure remains often unknown. In our practice, the complex vestibular rehabilitation consists of medical treatment and rehabilitation training program. Balance training comprises mostly statokinetic exercises, however, the training of the vestibulo-ocular pathways are as important as of the vestibulospinal pathways. Patients: The author used training exercises for the vestibulo-ocular and vestibulospinal pathways in patients who were treated with parenteral and oral vasoactive drugs. Methods: For measuring the improvement of the patients, a modified Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire was used. Results: The results show that the vasoactive medical treatment combined with optokinetic training improved the patients' condition. Our findings suggest that psychiatric status of the patients influences the outcome of the treatment. Conclusions: Medical treatment combined with optokinetic and statokinetic training program is effective in the rehabilitation of dizzy patients and improves the quality of life.