Effectiveness of virtual reality therapy in chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction: A randomized controlled study

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Neurology
• Vestibular Disorders

Background:

• Chronic vestibular hypofunction significantly impacts patients' quality of life.
• Habituation exercises are a standard treatment, but novel approaches are needed.
• Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive visual stimulation for rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) enhanced vestibular rehabilitation with standard habituation exercises.
• To evaluate the superiority of VR therapy in managing chronic vestibular hypofunction.

Main Methods:

• A prospective randomized controlled study included 87 patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction.
• Patients were assigned to either a treatment group (VR + habituation exercises) or a control group (habituation exercises only).
• Assessments included dizziness frequency, Visual Analog Scale, Timed Up and Go, Berg Balance Scale, Romberg Test, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory at baseline, 2, and 3 months.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant decreases in dizziness severity at 2 and 3 months.
• The VR treatment group demonstrated statistically significant improvements in dizziness severity, attack frequency, and daily frequency compared to the control group.
• p<0.001 indicated high statistical significance for improvements in the VR group.

Conclusions:

• Integrating virtual reality (VR) therapy into habituation exercises is an effective strategy.
• VR therapy significantly reduces the frequency and severity of dizziness attacks.
• This enhanced rehabilitation approach shows superiority in managing chronic vestibular hypofunction.