Effects of a Vestibular Rehabilitation Maneuver

Day General Hospital.16 enrolled

Overview

Rotational maneuver is a vestibular rehabilitation method, performed in a supervised manner. Using a rotating chair, subjects are rotated towards the opposite direction of dominant side in order to inhibit this side and simultaneously, stimulate the subordinate side. We propose that the rehabilitative effect is the result of a decrease in the vestibular imbalance, mainly due to a decrease in the response of the dominant vestibular side. Previously, we have shown the short-term effects of this maneuver on patients with recent onset vestibular imbalance. In the present study, we investigated the long-term effects of the rotational maneuver in patients with a history of peripheral vestibular vertigo for at least one year, originally confirmed by clinical tests. Our results show a significant improvement which lasted for \>4 weeks after the end of rehabilitation (i.e., the last time tested). Moreover, there seems to be a relationship between the decrease in DP values and a decrease in subjective symptoms. We propose that this maneuver can be used as an effective method for both short- and long-term rehabilitation.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Vertigo

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 70 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * History of vertigo for at least one year * Not under drug therapy for vertigo * directional preponderance \>10% measured by electronystagmography during rotation test Exclusion Criteria: * severe vertigo * intolerance to rotation * previously diagnosed for a central pathology (e.g., neuroma) * previously diagnosed with a fluctuating vestibular disorder (e.g., Menier's)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Directional preponderance (DP)

It provides an objective measure of vestibular asymmetry (percentage) in response to rotation. Eye movements are measured by electronystagmography during head rotations to the right and to the left. DP (%) is calculated by the equation: 100 x (max eye velocity for rightward rotations - max eye velocity for left rotations) / (max eye velocity for rightward rotations + max eye velocity for left rotations). Values below 10% are considered normal.

Time frame: Every 3-7 days for one month

Secondary Outcomes

Subjective sense of a decrease in imbalance and dizziness.

Patients report the intensity and frequency of their symptoms as a measure of subjective improvement on a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 representing the most improvement.

Time frame: every 3-7 days for one month