Improvements in path integration after vestibular rehabilitation

J Vestib Res. 2002;12(1):47-51.

Abstract

Fifty-three subjects with peripheral, chronic vestibulopathies, who were referred for vestibular rehabilitation, were tested on a path integration task before and after doing four weeks of five times daily habituation exercises for vertigo reduction. The task involved walking over a 7.62 m path with eyes closed. Dependent measures were velocity and angle of veering from the straight ahead. At the post-test and at succeeding follow-up tests for up to six months, subjects had significant increases in velocity and significant declines in angle of veering. Length of time subjects had vertigo prior to starting rehabilitation, and speed of head movement exercises were not associated with improvements. These data support the previous finding that patients with vestibular impairments have decreased performance on this task. The data also suggest that vestibular rehabilitation, given as a simple home program, is associated with improvements in this skill.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Aging / physiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Orientation / physiology*
  • Vertigo / physiopathology
  • Vertigo / rehabilitation
  • Vestibular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Vestibular Diseases / rehabilitation*
  • Walking / physiology*