Retrospective review and telephone follow-up to evaluate a physical therapy protocol for treating persistent postural-perceptual dizziness: A pilot study.

Publisher: IOS Press Country of Publication: Netherlands NLM ID: 9104163 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1878-6464 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 09574271 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Vestib Res Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: 2001- : Amsterdam : IOS Press
Original Publication: New York : Pergamon Press, c1990-

Physical Therapy Modalities* ; Postural Balance*; Dizziness/*rehabilitation ; Sensation Disorders/*rehabilitation; Adult ; Aged ; Anxiety/epidemiology ; Comorbidity ; Depression/epidemiology ; Dizziness/epidemiology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Habituation, Psychophysiologic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Migraine Disorders/epidemiology ; Physical Stimulation ; Pilot Projects ; Remission Induction ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensation Disorders/epidemiology ; Telephone ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) (formerly chronic subjective dizziness) may be treated using the habituation form of vestibular and balance rehabilitation therapy (VBRT), but therapeutic outcomes have not been formally investigated.
Objective: This pilot study gathered the first data on the efficacy of VBRT for individuals with well-characterized PPPD alone or PPPD plus neurotologic comorbidities (vestibular migraine or compensated vestibular deficits).
Methods: Twenty-six participants were surveyed by telephone an average of 27.5 months after receiving education about PPPD and instructions for home-based VBRT programs. Participants were queried about exercise compliance, perceived benefits of therapy, degree of visual or motion sensitivity remaining, disability level, and other interventions.
Results: Twenty-two of 26 participants found physical therapy consultation helpful. Fourteen found VBRT exercises beneficial, including 8 of 12 who had PPPD alone and 6 of 14 who had PPPD with co-morbidities. Of the 14 participants who found VBRT helpful, 7 obtained relief of sensitivity to head/body motion, 5 relief of sensitivity to visual stimuli, and 4 complete remission. Comparable numbers for the 12 participants who found VBRT not helpful were 1 (head/body motion), 3 (visual stimuli), and 0 (remission).
Conclusions: This pilot study offers the first data supporting the habituation form of VBRT for treatment of PPPD.

Keywords: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness; chronic subjective dizziness; habituation; vestibular rehabilitation

Date Created: 20150928 Date Completed: 20160708 Latest Revision: 20150928

20240829

10.3233/VES-150551

26410674