title: Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation on Balance Control in Older People with Chronic Dizziness: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the effects of vestibular rehabilitation protocols on balance control in elderly with dizziness.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a randomized clinical trial with 3-mo follow-up period. The sample was composed of 82 older individuals with chronic dizziness from vestibular disorders. The control group was treated according to the Conventional Cawthorne & Cooksey protocol (n = 40), and the experimental group was submitted to a Multimodal Cawthorne & Cooksey protocol (n = 42). Measures included Dynamic Gait Index, fall history, hand grip strength, Time Up-and-Go Test, sit-to-stand test, multidirectional reach, and static balance tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of history of falls, Forward Functional Reach, Unipedal Right and Left Leg Eyes Closed, and Sensorial Romberg Eyes Open, all outcomes improved after treatments. Such results persisted at follow-up period, with the exception of the Tandem Eyes Open and the Timed Up-and-Go manual. The between-group differences for Sensorial Romberg Eyes Closed (4.27 secs) and Unipedal Left Leg Eyes Open (4.08 secs) were significant after treatment, favoring the Multimodal protocol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both protocols resulted in improvement on elderly's balance control, which was maintained during a short-term period. The multimodal protocol presented better performance on specific static balance tests.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, Otoneurology Discipline, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (NAR, MCA, HHC, FFG); and Master's and Doctoral Programs in Physical Therapy, Universidade Cidade de São Paulo (NAR), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natalia Aquaroni
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ricci
authors.forename: Mayra Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Aratani
authors.forename: Heloísa Helena
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Caovilla
authors.forename: Fernando Freitas
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Ganança
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004244:Dizziness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*