Investigation of effect of vestibular rehabilitation practice on balance and walking functions in spinocerebellar ataxia patients

Objective: To investigate the effect of vestibular rehabilitation (VR) on balance and gait functions in patients with Spinoserebellar Ataxia (SA). Methods: The study was carried out with 17 patients over 18 years of age who were diagnosed as SA in Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine Neurology Department Balance Clinic. The disease-specific disability was determined by the Scale for the Assessment and Rating of Ataxia (SARA) and the International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale (ICARS). Exercise motivation levels were assessed by Exercise Motivation Inventory (EMI) and disability levels in daily life due to dizziness were assessed by Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Functional mobility of the patients were evaluated using the Timed Up and Go (TUG), balance functions Berg Balance Test (BBT) and Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (MCTSIB), walking skills were determined by Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). The effect of treatment on daily life quality was evaluated with Vestibular Rehabilitation Benefit Questionnaire (VRBQ). The patients were treated with vestibular rehabilitation as a home exercise program. Vestibular rehabilitation was performed before and at the end of the 8th week of exercise therapy. Exercise protocol was formed according to the physical disability of the patient according to the initial evaluation. Results: Significant improvements were found in all tests except DHI in comparison to pretreatment values. Significant differences were found before and after the treatment of BBT, TUG, MCTSIB, SARA, ICARS, DGI, EMI, VRBQ (p <0.05). Conclusions: According to the obtained results, home applied as vestibular rehabilitation exercise program showed improvement of balance and gait function in patients (p <0.05). It was found that patients in the SA adversely affected the balance and gait function. Improvement of walking and balance stability should be aimed with regular exercise in SA patients in home environment and individual physiotherapy and rehabilitation program should be designed. Key Words: Spinocerebellar ataxia, vestibular rehabilitation, balance, walking