Effects of a Walking Program in Patients with Chronic Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction

概要

[Purpose] Peripheral vestibular dysfunction refers to the impairment of vestibular function due to peripheral tissue damage. Stimuli from the vestibular system are projected to the oculomotor nerve nuclei, spinal cord, and the thalamus, and the body's equilibrium is maintained by inputting visual, somatosensory, reticular, and cerebellar stimuli to the left and right vestibular nerve nuclei. Patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction show decreased postural stability and low levels of physical activity and also experience much anxiety. Physical activity is known to improve these symptoms; however, no study has reported any positive effects of physical activity, such as symptom reduction or improvement in function in these patients. In this study, we investigated the role of a walking program in improvement of dizziness, anxiety, and postural stability in this patient population.

[Participants and Methods] This study included 21 patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction and chronic dizziness. Patients were instructed to walk 30 min daily for 3 months. Physical activity levels and questionnaires for clinical symptoms, anxiety, and postural stability were evaluated before and after intervention.

[Results] We observed significant differences in the amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, clinical symptoms, and self-perceived handicap before and after the intervention. Additionally, anxiety levels were significantly reduced and postural stability was significantly improved in these patients.

[Conclusion] A walking program improved physical activity levels, clinical symptoms, and postural stability and reduced self-perceived handicap and anxiety in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction. These results highlight the effectiveness of a walking program for these patients and emphasize its role as a complementary vestibular rehabilitation strategy.

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