Vestibular rehabilitation's effect over the quality of life of geriatric patients with labyrinth disease.
Dizziness is a symptom that affects the population world over, being more prevalent in the elderly due to the process of functional deterioration of the hearing and vestibular systems with aging.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate prospectively the effect of Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR) as treatment for labyrinth disease of vascular and metabolic origin in the quality of life of geriatric patients.


METHODS
The study was outlined as clinical-prospective, longitudinal, and observed, with the participation of 40 elder citizens of both genders, divided in 2 groups, dizziness of vascular or metabolic origin. The patients were evaluated and underwent VR - based on Cawthorne and Cooksey's protocol. The statistical analysis from the data was done through the t-Student test, the coefficients of Pearson and Spearman.


RESULTS
based on quality of life scales showed that the individuals treated and assessed improved after Vestibular Rehabilitation.


CONCLUSIONS
we concluded that VR, based on the protocols of Cawthorne and Cooksey, could be beneficial to this population.
Internal Medicine Department, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, São Paulo University, SP Brazil. erikafga@yahoo.co.br
Erika Barioni
EB
Mantello
Julio Cesar
JC
Moriguti
Antonio Luiz
AL
Rodrigues-Júnior
Eduardo
E
Ferrioli
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007759:Labyrinth Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications