Effect of cane use on the balance function in elderly patients with dizziness

Abstract

Japan has become a super-aging society, and the number of elderly persons with dizziness is increasing. In addition, elderly persons with dizziness have a high risk of falling, and fractures caused by falls can decrease the life span. It is therefore necessary to take appropriate countermeasures. Treatments for dizziness are wide-ranging and include physical therapy, such as canalith repositioning, and pharmacotherapy. However, many patients do not improve even after these treatments. In this study, we compared the results of stabilometry examined before and after the use of a cane in 21 patients aged 65 years or older with a history of dizziness who visited our department (DHI score of 28 points or higher). The use of a cane improved the following measured parameters: total length of body sway, area of body sway, and unit area body sway length at the time of eye opening and closing. To prevent falling, somatic sense input and skeletal muscle input focused on the lower extremities are important. It is expected that these inputs decline in elderly persons, and based on the results of the current study, it is likely that the use of prosthetics, such as a cane, will play an important role in the future in supporting these subjects.