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Vestibular rehabilitation: useful but not universally so |
Krebs DE, Gill-Body KM, Parker SW, Ramirez JV, Wernick-Robinson M |
Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery 2003 Feb;128(2):240-250 |
clinical trial |
2/10 [Eligibility criteria: Yes; Random allocation: Yes; Concealed allocation: No; Baseline comparability: No; Blind subjects: No; Blind therapists: No; Blind assessors: No; Adequate follow-up: No; Intention-to-treat analysis: No; Between-group comparisons: Yes; Point estimates and variability: No. Note: Eligibility criteria item does not contribute to total score] *This score has been confirmed* |
OBJECTIVE: Although vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is gaining popularity, few data support its utility in improving locomotor stability, and no good predictors exist of whom will benefit most. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial of vestibular rehabilitation was conducted at a large tertiary care hospital on 124 patients (59 +/- 18 years old) with unilateral (n = 51) or bilateral (n = 73) vestibular hypofunction, of whom 86 completed a 12-week intervention. Of these 86, 27 returned for long-term (1-year) follow-up testing. The primary outcome measure was locomotor stability. RESULTS: Group A (6 weeks of VR) significantly (p < 0.01) increased their gait velocity and stability compared with group B (6 weeks of strengthening exercise), but there was a smaller difference (p = 0.05) between groups at 12 weeks, when both had had VR; there were no group differences at 1 year. Of the 86 who completed the intervention, 52 (61%) had clear locomotor gains. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: VR is helpful for most patients in providing locomotor stability, but further work is needed to determine the factors that prevent VR from being effective for all patients with vestibulopathy.
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