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Physical Therapy Management of Vestibular Migraine of Childhood: A Case Report
Andrea Hayward1, Lisa Farrell, Jane Sweeney
1Department of Physical Therapy, Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (Drs Hayward and Sweeney), Provo, Utah; Symmetry Alliance (Dr Farrell), Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Purpose:
This case report presents the successful management of an adolescent with headache, dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness using the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) and International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD) diagnostic criteria to screen for vestibular migraine of childhood (VMC) and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. The physical therapist (PT) (1) used the diagnostic criteria from the ICHD-3 and the ICVD to determine the etiology, (2) taught protective lifestyle behaviors to reduce migraine symptoms, and (3) modified 2 physical therapy clinical practice guidelines to direct treatment.
Key Points:
The intervention prioritized adopting protective lifestyle behaviors to manage migraine symptoms before introducing exercises targeting vestibular and exertional intolerance symptoms.
Conclusion And Recommendations For Clinical Practice:
The diagnostic criteria helped inform the PT that the symptoms were consistent with VMC, which guided the intervention. Protective lifestyle behaviors and physical therapy strategies proved effective with symptom management.
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