Vestibular stimulation to improve ambulation after a cerebral vascular accident.
A pilot study was undertaken to determine if vestibular stimulation could be a valuable therapeutic measure in rehabilitating the patient who has had a cerebral vascular accident. Twenty patients with cerebral vascular accidents were tested. Changes in functional ambulation abilities of 10 patients receiving a passive vestibular exercise were compared with those of 10 patients not receiving this exercise. The vestibular stimulation was provided through a rotary stimulus that emphasized angular acceleration and deceleration. Patients who received the vestibular stimulation demonstrated greater improvement in functional ambulation than did patients who did not receive the stimulation.
D000368:Aged; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005684:Gait; D006429:Hemiplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009129:Muscle Tonus; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011434:Proprioception; D012399:Rotation; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000502:physiology*