P6 acupressure effectiveness on acute vertiginous patients: a double blind randomized study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Vestibular Disorders

Background:

• Vertigo significantly impacts quality of life, often accompanied by distressing neurovegetative symptoms.
• The vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) is crucial for gaze stabilization, and its integrity is vital in vertigo assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess P6 acupressure efficacy for vertigo and associated neurovegetative symptoms.
• To investigate P6 acupressure's potential interference with VOR.
• To determine the clinical utility of P6 acupressure during acute vertigo episodes.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 204 patients with acute or provoked vertigo.
• Patients received either appropriate P6 acupressure or placebo stimulation, rating symptom severity pre- and post-intervention.
• Vestibular-ocular reflex (VOR) was evaluated using video-oculoscopy and electronystagmography.

Main Results:

• 85% of patients receiving P6 acupressure reported symptom improvement, significantly impacting neurovegetative symptoms.
• Only 11% of the placebo group experienced improvement.
• No significant alterations in VOR parameters were observed in either group.

Conclusions:

• P6 acupressure demonstrates effectiveness in alleviating neurovegetative symptoms associated with vertigo.
• The P6 device does not interfere with VOR function.
• Routine use of P6 acupressure is recommended for acute vertigo and during labyrinth stimulation due to its cost-effectiveness and safety profile.