Reduction of falls in older people by improving balance with vestibular rehabilitation (ReFOVeRe study): design and methods.
OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) to improve the balance in older people, assessed immediately afterwards.


OBJECTIVE
(a) To verify the maintenance of improvement of the balance achieved in the medium term (6-12 months). (b) To consider whether this improvement results in a reduction in the number of falls. (c) To compare among themselves the effectiveness of three different methods of VR in improving balance and to explore whether there are differences to achieve a reduction in the number of falls.


METHODS



METHODS
Experimental study, single-centre, open, randomised (balanced blocks of patients) in four branches in parallel, in 220 elderly patients (over 64 years) with high risk of falls and a follow-up period of 12 months.


METHODS
Department of Otolaryngology of the University Hospital of Santiago.


METHODS
People over 64 years, fulfilling one of the following requirements: (a) At least one fall in the last year. (b) Take at least 16 s or require some support in perform the test "timed up and go". (c) A percentage of average balance in the sensory organisation test (SOT) in the dynamic posturography (CDP) <68%. (d) At least one fall in any of the conditions in the SOT of CDP.


METHODS
Three different protocols of VR.


METHODS
The percentage of average balance in the SOT in CDP. Secondary measures: time and supports in the test of "timed up and go", scores of the dynamic posturography and SwayStar system, and rate of falls.
Division of Neurotology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. andres.soto@usc.es.|Department of Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain. andres.soto@usc.es.
Andrés
A
Soto-Varela
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Pilar
P
Gayoso-Diz
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Lucus Augusti, Lugo, Spain.
Marcos
M
Rossi-Izquierdo
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Ana
A
Faraldo-García
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Isabel
I
Vaamonde-Sánchez-Andrade
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
María
M
del-Río-Valeiras
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de Santiago, Travesía da Choupana, s/n, 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Antonio
A
Lirola-Delgado
Division of Neurotology, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Complexo Hospitalario Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.|Department of Dermatology and Otorhinolaryngology, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.
Sofía
S
Santos-Pérez
D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests / Q000379:methods
Computerized dynamic posturography; Falls in elderly; Vestibular rehabilitation