Smartphone-Supported Vestibular Rehabilitation in Individuals With Vestibular Dysfunction: Pilot Randomized Crossover...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Digital Health

Background:

• Vestibular disorders cause balance problems, increase fall risk, and reduce quality of life.
• Anxiety often accompanies vestibular disorders, worsening daily function and leading to avoidance behaviors.
• Low adherence to home-based vestibular rehabilitation exercises stems from uncertainty, lack of feedback, and routine difficulties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of a smartphone app on vestibular rehabilitation outcomes.
• To explore the relationship between dizziness-related disability and anxiety during app-supported rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A randomized 2-period crossover pilot trial with 20 adults with vestibular dysfunction.
• Participants completed 6 weeks of rehabilitation, alternating between app-supported and conventional treatment.
• Outcome measures included Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Instrumented Timed Up and Go test.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in DHI scores were observed in both app-supported and conventional rehabilitation phases.
• Instrumented Timed Up and Go performance improved significantly when the app-supported phase came first.
• No significant changes in anxiety scores were noted, but a moderate correlation between dizziness disability and anxiety persisted.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone-supported vestibular rehabilitation may enhance functional outcomes for some patients.
• The strong association between dizziness and anxiety emphasizes the need to address psychological factors in treatment.
• Further research in larger trials is required to confirm the app's effectiveness.