Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2022 Nov-Dec;88 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):S41-S49.
doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.08.010. Epub 2021 Oct 26.

Effectiveness of conventional versus virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation exercises in elderly patients with dizziness: a randomized controlled study with 6-month follow-up

Tuba Kanyılmaz  1 , Oya Topuz  1 , Fazıl Necdet Ardıç  2 , Hakan Alkan  3 , Saadet Nur Sena Öztekin  1 , Bülent Topuz  2 , Füsun Ardıç  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effectiveness of conventional versus virtual reality-based vestibular rehabilitation exercises in elderly patients with dizziness: a randomized controlled study with 6-month follow-up

Tuba Kanyılmaz et al. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2022 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the effect of vestibular rehabilitation exercises supported with virtual reality containing real-life environments on dizziness, static and dynamic balance, functional mobility, fear of falling, anxiety, and depression in elderly patients with dizziness.

Methods: In this prospective randomized controlled study, 32-patients aged 65-years and older who applied to the otorhinolaryngology clinic with dizziness complaint randomly assigned to 2 groups. In Group 1 (n=16), vestibular rehabilitation program, supported with virtual reality, and in Group 2 (n=16), conventional vestibular rehabilitation program was applied 30-min a day, 5 sessions per week, 15 sessions in total for 3 weeks. Subjects were evaluated with The Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Berg Balance Test (BBT) and Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I), Postural Stability Test (PST), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS) at baseline, at the end of the treatment and 6-months after the treatment.

Results: Statistically significant improvements were seen in the DHI emotional subscale and TUG in Group 1 compared to Group 2 at the end of the treatment in elderly with dizziness (p<0.05). Also, there were significant improvements in the VSS, all DHI subgroups, and total scores, BBT, HAS in Group 1 compared to Group 2 at the 6-months after the treatment (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The application of vestibular rehabilitation in a virtual reality environment can lead to additional improvements especially in dizziness symptoms, disability, balance, and mobility in the elderly with chronic dizziness.

Keywords: Dizziness; Elderly; Vestibular rehabilitation; Virtual reality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CONSORT flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Fernandez L., Breinbauer H.A., Delano P.H. Vertigo, and dizziness in the elderly. Front Neurol. 2015;6:144. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Salles N., Kressig R.W., Michel J.P. Management of chronic dizziness in elderly people. Z Gerontol Geriatr. 2003;36:10–15. - PubMed
    1. Lo A.X., Harada C.N. Geriatric dizziness evolving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the emergency department. Clin Geriatr Med. 2013;29:181–204. - PubMed
    1. Yang X.J., Hill K., Moore K., Williams S., Dowson L., Borschmann K., et al. Effectiveness of a targeted exercise intervention in reversing older people’s mild balance dysfunction: a randomized controlled trial. Phys Ther. 2012;92:24–37. - PubMed
    1. Jung J.Y., Kim J.S., Chung P.S., Woo S.H., Rhee C.K. Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in reducing falls. Am J Otolaryngol. 2009;30:295–299. - PubMed

Publication types