title: [Impact of physiotherapy on quality of life improvement in patients with central vestibular system dysfunction].
abstract: THE AIM of the study was to evaluate the impact of physiotherapy on balance stability and quality of life improvement in patients with central vestibular system dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 31 patients (23 females, 8 males) with vertigo/dizziness and unsteadiness diagnosed for central vestibular system impairment based on videonystagraphy examinations, in ENT Department Medical University of Lodz between 2010-2011 years. Patients' history of diseases were collected. The physiotherapeutic programme was individually introduced during four weeks (five time a week). The intervention included balance training and habituation exercises. At baseline and after patients were evaluated therapy with WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) and Dizzeness Handicap Inventory (DHI) self-assessment scales. Clinical examination with Romberg and stand one leg tests (eyes opened and closed) was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After therapy statistically significant differences in total DHI score (p<0.005) and 3 subscales: physical, emotional, functional (p<0.05) and WHOQOL-BREF only physical subscale (p<0.05) compared baseline were found. There were no statistical differences between psychological, social relationships and environment subscales. In clinical evaluation significant reduction of unsteadiness in Romberg test (p<0.05) and in stand one leg tests eyes opened and closed tests (p<0.05) were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with central vestibular system impairment after physical therapy betterment in clinical examination and some subjective self-assessment scales were observed. Lack of significant improvement in psychological, social relationships and environment domain in WHOQOL-BREF subscale indicated that these patients may need more psychological support or extensions in physiotherapy.
authors: Zakład Rehabilitacji UM w Łodzi, 90-141 Łódź, Poland. jarekwalak@wp.pl
authors: Jarosław
authors: J
authors: Walak
authors: Marcin
authors: M
authors: Szczepanik
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Woszczak
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Józefowicz-Korczyńska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004244:Dizziness / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D055815:Young Adult