Durable improvement in participant-reported measures of disability and objective posturography after computerized vestibular retraining.

Background: Unilateral vestibular deficits are associated with postural instability and loss of quality of life. Common treatments frequently fail to achieve satisfactory outcomes.

Objective: To assess the durability of changes in participant-reported disability and objective posturography after computerized vestibular retraining.

Methods: This was a single-group study. Individuals with persistent symptoms of an objectively determined unilateral vestibular deficit completed questionnaires and posturography assessments before and after twelve sessions of computerized retraining, and 4-6 months and 10-12 months after treatment.

Results: 13 participants completed the post-treatment assessments; 9 completed the follow up. Mean improvements in perceived disability at 4-6 months after retraining were: DHI 14.3 points (95% confidence interval 4.0 to 24.5), ABC scale 14.9 points (4.3 to 25.6), FES-I 11.6 points (-3.2 to 26.5).The SOT composite score increased by 11.4 points (95% CI 1.9 to 20.9; p = 0.0175) immediately after treatment, 8.9 points (-2.9 to 20.7; p = 0.1528) at 4-6 months, and 10.6 points (2.2 to 19.0; p = 0.0162) after 10-12 months. At the 10-12 month time point, the areas of the functional stability region increased significantly for both endpoint excursion (p = 0.0086) and maximum excursion (p = 0.0025).

Conclusion: Computerized vestibular retraining was associated with improved participant reported disability and objective measures of postural stability.