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Early rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders: a prospective, randomized investigation using computerized posturography

  • Otology
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Abstract

Patients with unilateral vestibular lesions have a set of deficits requiring compensation based on the inherent plasticity of the central nervous system. In the 1940s, it was reported that patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunctions who exercised recovered faster than those who did not. The present prospective, randomized investigation aimed to assess the role of a computerized posturography-assisted early vestibular rehabilitation protocol combined with a home-based exercise program in the treatment of patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders occurring 2 weeks previously. Fifteen patients were randomly assigned to a 5-week posturography-assisted vestibular rehabilitation protocol and a home-based exercise program (Group A), while 15 simply awaited spontaneous compensation (Group B). All patients underwent computerized posturography approximately 2 weeks after their vestibular disorder was diagnosed and again after 6 weeks. Ten healthy volunteers were also studied (Group C). After rehabilitation, Group A patients improved significantly in most sensory measures [modified clinical test of sensory organization and balance (mCTSIB)] and motor parameters [limits of stability (LOS)] by comparison with preliminary outcomes, and there were no significant differences in sensory (mCTSIB) and motor (LOS) findings between Group A and the healthy volunteers. At the same time point, several motor (LOS) parameters were still altered in Group B by comparison with the healthy volunteers. These preliminary outcomes support the hypothesis that the compensation achievable after 6 weeks with a customized program of posturography-assisted vestibular rehabilitation and home-based exercises is superior to the results of physiological spontaneous compensation.

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Acknowledgments

This study was partly supported by grant no. 60A07-9312/10 from the University of Padova, Italy. The authors thank Cristina Tabellini, MD for data collecting, Frances Coburn for correcting the English final version of this paper, and Roberta Andreose for her photographic contribution.

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology Section, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy

    Gino Marioni, Salvatore Fermo & Alberto Staffieri

  2. Otolaryngology Unit, Schio Hospital, Schio, Vicenza, Italy

    Davide Zanon

  3. Ambulatorio Specialistico di Fisiokinesiterapia, Cooperativa Sociale Le Valli, s.c.s, Longarone, Belluno, Italy

    Nadia Broi

Authors
  1. Gino Marioni
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  2. Salvatore Fermo
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  3. Davide Zanon
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  4. Nadia Broi
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  5. Alberto Staffieri
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gino Marioni.

Additional information

In December 2009, a preliminary version of the present study won the prize for the best final thesis in northeastern Italy for the university degree course in Physical Therapy.

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Marioni, G., Fermo, S., Zanon, D. et al. Early rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular disorders: a prospective, randomized investigation using computerized posturography. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 270, 425–435 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-1944-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-012-1944-4

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