title: Evaluation of quality of life pre- and post-vestibular rehabilitation in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo associated with Meniere's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vertigo is a symptom that impacts the patients' quality of life and may force them to cease performing activities of daily living. Here, we discuss benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Meniere's disease (MD), which show exacerbated symptoms when they appear in association. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is an effective treatment in reducing vertigo, especially in conjunction with other therapies.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the quality of life of patients with BPPV and MD before and after VR.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a descriptive observational qualitative and quantitative case study with 12 patients aged 35 to 86 years. All patients diagnosed with BPPV and MD received treatment in the ENT clinic. The Brazilian DHI questionnaire, which assesses the quality of life with a focus on physical, emotional, and functional aspects, was used for data collection, and was completed by patients before the first session and after the fifth session of VR. Data were tested using the Shapiro-Wilk normality test, followed by Wilcoxon, Friedman, and Spearman correlation tests (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant improvements in scores for all aspects, with median changes ranging from 12 to 0 in the physical, 6 to 1 in the emotional, and 11 to 1 in the functional aspect. There were no correlations between the scores and sample characteristics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VR was an effective method for the treatment of patients with BPPV and MD; it improves quality of life and shows the maximal influence on physical aspect scores, regardless of age or gender.
authors.affiliation: Physiotherapist. Physiotherapist, Blumenau/SC.
authors.forename: Dayra Dill
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Socher
authors.affiliation: PhD from the University of São Paulo. Professor of Otorhinolaryngology in Regional University of Blumenau Foundation.
authors.forename: Jan Alessandro
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Socher
authors.affiliation: Master of Physiotherapy, Methodist University of Piracicaba. Professor of Kinesiology, Course of Physiotherapy in Regional University of Blumenau Foundation.
authors.forename: Viviane Jacintha Bolfe
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Azzi
keywords: meniere disease; quality of life; rehabilitation; vertigo