Objectives: Vestibular disturbances are underdiagnosed in children. However, balance impairment may compromise the normal development of affected children. The appropriate therapeutic approach has not been agreed on for this age group. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy has excellent results in adults, but very few data exist regarding its results in children. We evaluated through clinical assessment and computerized dynamic posturography the outcome of children with peripheral vestibular disturbances undergoing vestibular rehabilitation therapy and observed the influence of learning and of central nervous system maturation on posturography retest results.
Methods: Sixteen children (10 boys and 6 girls) with peripheral vestibular disorders (mean age, 8 yr 7 mo) constituted the cohort and were consecutively treated with vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Symptomatic children underwent pre- and posttreatment computerized dynamic posturography. Their outcome was clinically assessed. Another 16 asymptomatic children, paired by sex and age, underwent two computerized dynamic posturography procedures with the same time interval as that of the symptomatic group.
Results: All children completed the treatment. Total recovery of symptoms occurred in nine (56.3%) patients, whereas a dramatic partial recovery was observed in the remaining seven (43.7%) children. Posturography Conditions 5 and 6, the vestibular ratio of the sensory analysis, and the composite equilibrium score had a significant quantitative improvement after vestibular rehabilitation therapy. No adverse reactions occurred to the exercises. No statistically significant posturography changes were observed in the asymptomatic children.
Conclusion: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy seems to be a safe and efficacious therapeutic option in children with peripheral vestibular disturbances.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/01.mao.0000169051.69254.85 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Environment Enrichment Strategies for Pre- and Post-Term Infants: A Summarized Communication From Pediatric Physical Therapists.
Pediatr Phys Ther
March 2025
Max Nader Center for Rehabilitation Technologies & Outcomes Research, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, Chicago, Illinois (Drs Deng, Hoffman, Stoller, Rubsam, Ku, Barbieri, Lacci, and Jayaraman); Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Rubsam); Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts (Dr Barbieri); Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Jayaraman); Department of Physical Therapy and Human Movement Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Jayaraman); Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois (Dr Jayaraman).
Purpose: Environmental enrichment (EE) represents a dynamic approach to enhance infants' cognitive and motor development through augmented environment with stimulating, novel opportunities. Despite the recognized benefits of EE on neuromotor outcomes, its integration into early physical therapy interventions for infants at risk of neuromotor delays and disabilities remains under-defined and inconsistently applied in standard practice. This gap underscores the necessity for comprehensive guidance to systematically incorporate EE into early intervention programs and daily routines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe effect of using virtual reality on balance in people with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness: A randomized controlled trial.
J Vestib Res
March 2025
Department of Physiotherapy, School of Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
BackgroundPersistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) represents a relatively new vestibular diagnosis that has garnered attention within the medical community. Consequently, there is a pressing demand for efficacious management strategies.ObjectiveTo assess the comparative effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) versus vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) in improving PPPD symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGait impairments in patients with bilateral vestibulopathy and chronic unilateral vestibulopathy.
Front Neurol
February 2025
Division of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Vestibular deficits often lead to unsteady gait, affecting quality of life and increasing fall risk. This study aimed to identify gait impairments in chronic vestibulopathy. Ten patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BV), 10 patients with chronic unilateral vestibulopathy (UV), and 10 healthy participants (HS) participated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-invasive vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) reduces visceral adipose tissue: results of a randomised controlled trial.
Sci Rep
March 2025
Neurovalens Ltd, Belfast, UK.
Across multiple species, chronic vestibular stimulation activates hypothalamic regions involved in energy homeostasis and reduces body fat. This first-in-human randomised controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of electrical vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS) as a means of reducing excess body weight and fat. Overweight and obese adults were randomised 1:1 to receive 60 min of daily VeNS (n = 117) or sham stimulation (n = 124) for 6 months, together with a hypocaloric diet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUpdated Views on Vestibular Physical Therapy for Patients with Vestibular Disorders.
Healthcare (Basel)
February 2025
MSA ENT Academy Center, 03043 Cassino, Italy.
Vestibular Physical Therapy (VPT) plays a crucial role in the rehabilitation of patients with vestibular disorders by promoting vestibular compensation through adaptation, habituation, and substitution mechanisms. While traditional VPT approaches have demonstrated effectiveness in restoring balance and gaze stability, some patients with chronic vestibular dysfunction continue to experience persistent deficits. review of recent advancements in neuroplasticity research suggest the need for updated rehabilitation strategies that integrate sensorimotor substitution, saccadic training, optokinetic stimulation, and cognitive-motor dual-task training to optimize vestibular compensation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!