Aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction: exploratory prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the effects of aquatic physiotherapy on individuals with unilateral vestibular hypofunction and examine the association of therapeutic effects with age, time since symptom onset and use of antivertigo medication.


METHODS
Exploratory study.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients presenting chronic dizziness with uncompensated unilateral vestibular loss.


METHODS
All patients underwent a regimen of 10 sessions of aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation.


METHODS
Patient evaluation prior to and following rehabilitation involved the application of the Brazilian version of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), dynamic computerized posturography and the self-perception scale of dizziness intensity. Statistical analysis compared average variables prior to and following rehabilitation using the Student t test.


RESULTS
Brazilian DHI total scores were lower following rehabilitation (p = 0.001). Posturography revealed a reduction in the variation of body displacement following rehabilitation in the average stability and anterior/posterior stability indexes (p = 0.001) and in the average medial/lateral stability index (p = 0.003). Self-perception of dizziness intensity was lower following rehabilitation (p = 0.001). No association between age, time since symptom onset and use of antivertigo medication and rehabilitation therapeutic effects were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Unilateral vestibular hypofunction patients undergoing aquatic physiotherapy for vestibular rehabilitation achieved an improvement in quality of life, body balance and self-perception of dizziness intensity, regardless of age, time since symptom onset, and use of antivertigo medication.
Gabilan
Yeda P L
YP
Neurotology Division, Department of Otorhynolaryngology, Head and Neck, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. ygabilan@uol.com.br
Perracini
Mônica R
MR
Munhoz
Mario S L
MS
Gananç
Fernando F
FF
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004244:Dizziness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013550:Swimming; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D055815:Young Adult