Efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in reducing falls.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the short-term effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in reducing fall risk in an at-risk population.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 70 patients older than 50 years of age at risk for falls treated at a tertiary vestibular therapy center. Fall risk was assessed by the Berg balance test.


RESULTS
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement in Berg balance test scores (pretherapy, 36.8, to posttherapy, 46.4). Referring diagnosis, age, and gender had no impact on outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy significantly reduces the risk of falls in elderly at-risk patients with improvement measured at the termination of therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy plays an important preventive role in reducing falls in at-risk elderly patients, with beneficial effects seen at termination of therapy.
Macias
John D
JD
Macias Otology, Phoenix, Arizona, USA. jdmacias@earthlink.net
Massingale
Shelly
S
Gerkin
Richard D
RD
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009819:Office Visits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004856:Postural Balance; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*