Effectiveness and psychological improvement in chronic vestibular problem using home-based balance rehabilitation with step 1 (head and neck movement): A case report

Abstract

Chronic vestibular problem or disorder is a complicated vestibular disorder that can involve multiple complications such as psychological and others. A standard and latest term that is globally used for this chronic disorder is recurrent vestibulopathy. Recurrent vestibulopathy is defined as an illness of unknown cause characterized by more than a single episode of vertigo of duration characteristic of that occurring with hydrops, but without auditory or clinical neurological symptoms or signs for more than 6 months' duration. During this pandemic period, home-based module is one of the valuable rehabilitation methods to treat non benign paroxysmal positional vertigo vestibular cases.Vestibular Rehabilitation (VRT) is a specific form of physical therapy designed to habituate symptoms and promote adaptation to and substitution for various aspects of deficits related to a wide variety of balance disorders. Most VRT exercises involve head movement which are essential in stimulating and retraining the vestibular system. Bal Ex is a home-based module of VRT with specific modules that are available in three forms viz. manual book, poster and DVD. This module was developed with a combination of customized Cawthorned Cookseey Exercise and prayer movements. Foam exercise is one of the VRTs. It consists of twenty movements divided into three levels. This physical exercise module has many advantages. In this case study we evaluated the effectiveness and psychological improvement in chronic vestibular problem using level 1 Home-based Balance Rehabilitation in a 30-year-old female patient.

Home-based Vestibular Rehabilitation: A Feasible and Effective Therapy for Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (A Pilot Study)

“…Bal Ex was effective in improving Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory with chronic vestibulopathy as early as 1 month of therapy. 17 Effective therapy requires sustained effort which relies heavily on the patient's commitment and motivation. A home-based option which includes activities that are familiar to our local setting may be an incentive for better compliance.…”

“…Bal Ex was effective in improving Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSS), Beck Depression Inventory and Beck Anxiety Inventory with chronic vestibulopathy as early as 1 month of therapy. 17…”