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Vestibular Rehabilitation for Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction

"last update: 9 June 2024"  

Executive Summary

Audio-Vestibular medicine physicians prescribe the proper therapy plan that could be performed in collaboration with physiotherapist, Clinicians should offer vestibular rehabilitation to patients with acute or subacute UVH. (Strong recommendation), In acute cases; patient might first take symptomatic treatment to control acute symptoms, anxiety and autonomic complaints to be able to start the VRT. Also Clinicians are (strongly recommended) to offer vestibular rehabilitation to patients with chronic UVH and BVH.  Clinicians should not offer saccadic or smooth-pursuit exercises in isolation; as they are not specific exercises for gaze stability to individuals with unilateral or bilateral vestibular hypofunction (strong recommendation). Clinicians may provide targeted exercise techniques to accomplish specific goals appropriate to address identified impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions (strong recommendation). Clinicians may prescribe static and dynamic balance exercises and prescribe weekly clinic visits plus a home exercise program of gaze stabilization exercises (strong recommendation). Clinicians should offer supervised vestibular physical therapy in individuals with peripheral UVH and BVH (strong recommendation). Clinicians may use achievement of primary goals, resolution of symptoms, normalized balance and vestibular function, or plateau in progress as reasons for stopping therapy; objective and subjective outcome measures could be used, also Patient’s age and physical capabilities should be considered. (Strong recommendation). Clinicians may evaluate factors that could modify rehabilitation outcomes (strong recommendation). Clinicians should offer vestibular rehabilitation therapy to persons with peripheral vestibular hypofunction with the intention of improving quality of life (Strong recommendation).