Is vestibular rehabilitation as effective in bilateral vestibular dysfunction as in unilateral vestibular dysfunction?

BACKGROUND: Bilateral vestibular dysfunction causes serious disabilities and handicaps. Patients with bilateral dysfunction often restrict their activities and tend to be unsocial.

AIM: To compare the effects of vestibular rehabilitation on disability, balance, and postural stability in patients with unilateral and bilateral vestibular dysfunction.

DESIGN: Retrospective study.

SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation center.

POPULATION: Patients with unilateral (group 1, N.=42) and bilateral vestibular dysfunction (group 2, N.=19).

METHODS: All patients were evaluated before and after eight weeks of customized vestibular rehabilitation for disability (Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI], Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale [ABC]), dynamic balance (Timed Up and Go Test [TUG], Dynamic Gait Index [DGI]), and postural stability (static posturography).

RESULTS: The differences between DHI, TUG, DGI, and falling index (as assessed by static posturography) scores before and after the exercise program were statistically significant in both groups (P<0.05). There were no significant intergroup differences in any of the parameters evaluated (P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: In this study, vestibular rehabilitation was found to be equally effective in unilateral and bilateral vestibular dysfunction patients for improving disability, dynamic balance, and postural stability.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Patients with bilateral dysfunction, causing more disability and greater handicap may indeed regain their functions as in patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction by receiving appropriate and adequate vestibular rehabilitation.