title: Impacts of small vestibular schwannoma on community ambulation, postural, and ocular control.
abstract: To investigate balance, community mobility, gaze instability, and dizziness handicap and assess falls risk in people who are conservatively managed with small vestibular schwannoma (VS).
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study with controls.
  
  
  
  The study involved 18 people (mean age 58.7 ± 12.2 years) diagnosed with VS (<12 mm) and 22 age-matched controls (mean age 56.9 ± 8.0 years). Measures included standing on firm and foam surfaces with feet apart, then together with eyes open and closed, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and dual TUG test, Dynamic Gait Index, 6-Minute Walk Test, Halmagyi Impulse Test, Dynamic Visual Acuity Test, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory.
  
  
  
  The clinical group failed more trials standing feet together on foam with eyes closed (P < .05); had inferior mobility and walked more slowly with divided attention (P < .05); had more difficulty walking with head movement, negotiating obstacles, and using stairs (P < .01); and walked shorter distances (P < .001) than controls. Reduced gaze stability (P < .01) and higher total (P = .007) and subcategory dizziness handicap scores (P < .05) were revealed compared to age-matched controls.
  
  
  
  Although outcomes for the clinical group are inferior to the control group across all measures and the dizziness impact is higher, the results fall in the low-risk category for falls. Preliminary data (level 4 evidence) support using a suite of clinical measures to monitor people with VS during conservative management.
  
  
  
  4 Laryngoscope, 127:1147-1152, 2017.
authors: School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|Department of Physiotherapy, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.|School of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Nancy L
authors: NL
authors: Low Choy
authors: School of Physiotherapy, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Mary-Therese M
authors: MM
authors: Lucey
authors: School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Susan L
authors: SL
authors: Lewandowski
authors: Department of Ear Nose and Throat, Princess Alexander Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors: Benedict J
authors: BJ
authors: Panizza
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004244:Dizziness / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005403:Fixation, Ocular; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015835:Ocular Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004856:Postural Balance; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Vestibular; balance; conservative management; dizziness; mobility; quality of life; vestibular schwannoma; vestibulo-ocular control