Is customized vestibular rehabilitation effective in patients with Parkinson's?

Abstract

Patients with Parkinson's disease complain about restrictions in their daily life activities and impairment in their mobility and balance. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of vestibular rehabilitation on functioning, quality of life, balance, and postural stability in patients with Parkinson's disease. The patients with Parkinson's disease divided into a rehabilitation group (Group 1, n: 29) and a control group(Group 2, n: 11). All patients were evaluated before and after eight weeks of customized vestibular rehabilitation for motor score (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale); quality of life (Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39); balance (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale [ABC], Timed Up and Go Test, Dynamic Gait Index [DGI], and Berg Balance Scale [BBS]); and postural stability (Modified Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction on Balance [mCTSIB]. There were significant differences in the pre- and post-exercise ABC, BBS, and DGI scores in Group 1 (p < 0.05). A statistically significant impairment was observed in mCTSIB (firm and foam eyes closed [EC]) in the control group (p < 0.05). There were no significant intergroup differences in any of the parameters evaluated (p > 0.05). In this study, vestibular rehabilitation was found to be effective for improving balance in patients with Parkinson's disease.