Early vestibular physical therapy rehabilitation for Meniere's disease.
Meniere disease includes symptoms of fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus, and subjective ear fullness accompanied by episodic vertigo. Along with these symptoms, patients with chronic Meniere often develop symptoms of disequilibrium and unsteadiness that extend beyond the episodic attacks and contribute to the total disability and reduced quality of life attributed to the disease. Vestibular rehabilitation physical therapy has been used only after vestibular ablation has stabilized the vestibular loss, and for patients stably managed on medical therapy who exhibit no fluctuation in symptoms. This article reviews the data substantiating current applications of vestibular therapy, including improvements in subjective and objective balance outcome measures, and explores the possible extension of vestibular rehabilitation to treatment of patients exhibiting continued fluctuating vestibular loss.
Gottshall
Kim R
KR
Department of Otolaryngology, Naval Medical Center San Diego, Spatial Orientation Center, 34520 Bob Wilson Drive, Suite 200, San Diego, CA 92134, USA.
Topp
Shelby G
SG
Hoffer
Michael E
ME
D006801:Humans; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011182:Postoperative Care; D004856:Postural Balance; D014717:Vertigo / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000601:surgery; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000601:surgery