Body Balance Rehabilitation in Older Persons with Peripheral Chronic Vestibular Disease

Abstract

Objectives:

Evaluate the efficacy of a balance rehabilitation program in older persons with chronic vestibular disease.

Methods:

Prospective clinical trial conducted from September 2011 to December 2012. Setting: University center for balance disorders. Eligible patients (over 60 years old) with chronic vestibular disease underwent 12 to 16 sessions of individual body balance rehabilitation program (BRP). Each session lasted 60 minutes, twice per week, and was associated with diet orientation and daily exercises for labyrinth stimulation. Before and after therapy, the following data were collected: patient complaints, the Functional Gait Assessment, the Brazilian OARS Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire, the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and static posturography parameters (limit of stability and balance functional reserve in ten visual, vestibular, and somatosensory conflicts).

Results:

Of 20 patients, 90.9% were female, with mean age of 71.70 years old. After BRP, there was reduction of most of symptoms (dizziness, imbalance and nausea), improvement in functional capacity (P < 0.05), gait stability (P = 0.003) and reduction in DHI scores (P = 0.001). The limit of stability measure increased (P = 0.001) and also the body balance functional reserve, mainly in conditions 2, 3 and 4 (P = 0.001) and 5 (P = 0.020).

Conclusions:

A body balance rehabilitation program was effective in reduction of symptoms, fall risk, and dizziness impact on quality of life in elderly patients with vestibular disorders, improving functional capacity, gait stability, and increasing the limit of stability and the balance functional reserve.