@article{ref1,
title="Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in reducing falls",
journal="Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery",
year="2005",
author="Macias, John D. and Massingale, Shelly and Gerkin, Richard D.",
volume="133",
number="3",
pages="323-325",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To assess the short-term effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in reducing fall risk in an at-risk population. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective chart review of 70 patients older than 50 years of age at risk for falls treated at a tertiary vestibular therapy center. Fall risk was assessed by the Berg balance test. RESULTS: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement in Berg balance test scores (pretherapy, 36.8, to posttherapy, 46.4). Referring diagnosis, age, and gender had no impact on outcome. CONCLUSION: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy significantly reduces the risk of falls in elderly at-risk patients with improvement measured at the termination of therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy plays an important preventive role in reducing falls in at-risk elderly patients, with beneficial effects seen at termination of therapy.",
language="",
issn="0194-5998",
doi="10.1016/j.otohns.2005.04.024",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.otohns.2005.04.024"
}