Specific vestibular exercises in the treatment of vestibular neuritis

Abstract

Vestibular neuritis rapidly damages unilateral vestibular periphery, inducing severe balance disorders. In most cases, such vestibular imbalance is gradually restored to within the normal level after clinical therapies. This successive clinical recovery occurs due to regeneration of vestibular periphery and/or accomplishment of central vestibular compensation. The program of vestibular rehabilitation presents a major achievement in the field of treatment of balance disorders. Vestibular compensation is associated with central sensory reintegration and bilaterally equalizes the vestibular tonus over a period of time. In this retrospective study of a series of cases authors present their results in 58 patients undergoing a program of vestibular rehabilitation. Patients were divided into two groups. Thirty patients were in group I, and 28 in group II. Specific vestibular exercises were conducted in group I, and non-specific exercises in group II. Analysis of effects of vestibular compensation was made due electronystagmography. Results were satisfactory in both groups of patients. Absence of spontaneous nystagmus was detected in 83.3% of patients in group I (specific vestibular exercises) and in 53.5% of patients in group II (non-specific exercises), with an average treatment time of up to 2 months. Harmonization of pendular stimulation was detected in 83.3% and 60.7% of patients in groups I and II, respectively. Early physiotherapeutic vestibular rehabilitation supports the vestibular compensation mechanism. At the same time vestibular rehabilitation may prevent panic disorder caused by hyperventilation syndrome.