Balance and vestibular rehabilitation in the patient with acquired brain injury

Abstract

Acquired and degenerative neurologic disorders are frequently associated with disequilibrium, dizziness, and vertigo. Conditions such as traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) can present with varying degrees of motor, sensory, and central processing impairments that can dramatically impact daily life activities and increase the risk of injury due to falls. A majority of individuals who sustain brain injury complain of dizziness for up to 5 years following injury (Sataloff et al., 1993). Stroke survivors often have problems with balance, with a reported 40% experiencing a serious fall within the first year after the CVA (Health on the Net Foundation, 2003). © 2007 Springer.