BackgroundVertigo and instability due to vestibular dysfunction have been a frequent cause of work absence, with a clearly upwardtendency observed in recent years. Uncompensated vestibular hypofunction requires vestibular rehabilitation, but access to this formof treatment remains limited. Therefore, innovative methods of rehabilitation utilizing new technologies, which could promote thistherapy, are searched for. Virtual reality (VR) is becoming a popular method of rehabilitation used, for example, in the treatment ofstroke or schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate 2 methods of vestibular rehabilitation in patients withunilateral vestibular disorders.Material and MethodsForty-three patients with unilateral vestibular disorders diagnosed at theBalance Disorders Unit, 1st Otolaryngology Department of the Medical University of Lodz, were included in this study. The patients,divided into 2 groups, received 10 sessions of rehabilitation. Group 1 (N = 22) was rehabilitated using a VR unit consisting of a forceplateand a motion sensor, while Group 2 (N = 21) performed training on a static posturography platform under physiotherapistsupervision. The patients were examined at the baseline, 1 month and 3 months after rehabilitation. During each assessment, posturographywas performed which recorded the center of pressure (CoP) displacement. The patients also filled out a questionnaire toquantify vertigo symptoms.ResultsThe CoP parameters decreased in both groups, with no superiority of either form of training. Analysis of the subjective symptoms reduction revealed a decrease in the Vertigo Syndrome Scale – short form (VSS-sf) score in thesecond evaluation in both groups, which was slightly greater in the VR group. The improvement remained stable 3 months after rehabilitation.ConclusionsBoth forms of rehabilitation are effective in increasing postural stability and reducing subjective symptoms.Virtual reality training achieves a slightly greater subjective improvement. Med Pr. 2019;70(5):545–53
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