Rehabilitación vestibular y abordaje manual en pacientes con hipofunción vestibular periférica unilateral

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effect of a directed vestibular rehabilitation program with manual therapy on dizziness-related disability and imbalance symptoms. Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial. Subjects: Eighty patients with peripheral unilateral vestibular hypofunction. Intervention: Patients in the control group (n=40) underwent a directed vestibular rehabilitation therapy program, while those in the experimental group (n=40) underwent the same program plus manual therapy once a week for four weeks. Results: At the four-week point significant improvements were observed in the DHI total score and intensity in favor of the treatment group. After one month, between-group differences were statistically significant for the same outcomes. Six months after the intervention the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in the average displacement speed of the center of pressure with eyes open; there were significant improvements in DHI total score, as well as physical, emotional, and functional subscales.