Effectiveness of exercise treatment with visual alert in chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction

Effectiveness of Exercise Treatment with Visual Alert in Chronic Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of exercise therapy with visual stimulation in vertigo, rehabilitation of dizziness and balance disorder caused by acute unilateral vestibular diseases. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction were included in the prospective, randomized and controlled study. Patients were randomized into two groups. Each group received vestibular rehabilitation exercises 5 days a week for 2 months. The first group was given home exercises. For the second group, in addition to the home exercise program a total of 16 visual sessions (virtual reality) were performed twice a week, followed by the exercise program. Patients were evaluated prior to the treatment and on post-treatment 2nd and 3rd months. Dizziness intensity was measured by VAS (Visual Analog Scale), dizziness frequency by attack frequency, functionality by TUG test and Berg balance scale, postural endurance by Romberg test, quality of life by Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire. Findings: Statistically significant decrease in VAS values was found on post-treatment 2nd and 3rd months' follow-up in all two groups (p <0,001). There was a significant difference in the virtual reality group compared to the exercise group at the VAS levels (p<0,001). There was a statistically significant increase in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire, TUG test, Berg balance scale, attack frequency and daily frequency in all two groups on post-treatment 2nd and 3rd months' follow-up (p <0.001). in the intergroup comparisons, attack frequency and daily frequency measurements at the end of treatment showed that, Virtual reality group statistically was significantly better than the home exercise group (p <0.001). Conclusion: In our study, significant improvements in the severity of dizziness and functionality were observed in both groups in the treatment of unilateral chronic vestibular hypofunction. It was found out that in some of the evaluations among the two group virtual reality group was statistically superior to the home exercise group. However, long-term follow-up studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality rehabilitation in patients with unilateral chronic vestibular hypofunction. Keywords: chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction, virtual reality, Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Keywords: chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction, virtual reality, Dizziness Handicap Inventory