Citation

Ricci NA, Aratani MC, Caovilla HH, Ganança FF. Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2015; 95(4): 256-269.

Affiliation

From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Otoneurology Discipline, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (NAR, MCA, HHC, FFG); and Master's and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (NAR), São Paulo, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/PHM.0000000000000370

PMID

26368833

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of vestibular rehabilitation protocols on balance control in elderly with dizziness.

DESIGN: This is a randomized clinical trial with 3-mo follow-up period. The sample was composed of 82 older individuals with chronic dizziness from vestibular disorders. The control group was treated according to the Conventional Cawthorne & Cooksey protocol (n = 40), and the experimental group was submitted to a Multimodal Cawthorne & Cooksey protocol (n = 42). Measures included Dynamic Gait Index, fall history, hand grip strength, Time Up-and-Go Test, sit-to-stand test, multidirectional reach, and static balance tests.

RESULTS: With the exception of history of falls, Forward Functional Reach, Unipedal Right and Left Leg Eyes Closed, and Sensorial Romberg Eyes Open, all outcomes improved after treatments. Such results persisted at follow-up period, with the exception of the Tandem Eyes Open and the Timed Up-and-Go manual. The between-group differences for Sensorial Romberg Eyes Closed (4.27 secs) and Unipedal Left Leg Eyes Open (4.08 secs) were significant after treatment, favoring the Multimodal protocol.

CONCLUSIONS: Both protocols resulted in improvement on elderly's balance control, which was maintained during a short-term period. The multimodal protocol presented better performance on specific static balance tests.

Language: en