Balance control and vestibular disorders in pregnant women: A comprehensive review on pathophysiology, clinical features and rational treatment

Abstract

During pregnancy, women experience substantial anthropometric, cardiovascular, hormonal and psychological changes that affect several organs involving the circulatory, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, dermatological and sensory systems. The main aim of this review was to analyse the available literature on postural strategies throughout pregnancy in both static and dynamic conditions. The secondary aim was to assess and discuss the current knowledge regarding vestibular disorders during pregnancy. Pregnant women with vestibular disorders need appropriate and safe treatments to resolve or reduce symptoms without risks for mother and foetus. Our protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42024622122). A literature search was conducted screening PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases. After duplicates removal and exclusion of records due to coherence with the inclusion/exclusion criteria, 41 articles relevant to the topic were examined. Although some studies claimed no changes in postural behaviour during pregnancy, most of the available evidence seems to demonstrate significant modifications in posture and balance metrics, with multiple mechanisms. Physiological changes that occur in the mother's body during pregnancy have been considered as a possible substrate for developing vestibular disorders. Dizziness and vertigo were reported in pregnancy in small, low-quality studies. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vestibular neuritis, Ménière disease, vestibular migraine and vestibular schwannoma have all been documented in pregnant women. To overcome reported limitations, prospective studies, preferably multicentre and involving third-level audio-vestibular centres are mandatory in order to define rational diagnostic and treatment approaches for vestibular disorders to protect the safety of the mother and foetus.

Keywords: Pregnancy; balance; postural control; vertigo; vestibular disorders.

Figure 1.

PRISMA diagram summarising electronic database search and inclusion/exclusion process of the review. *Date of last search, 30 December 2024.