Efficacy of Vestibular Physiotherapy Against Multi-component Exercise in Functional Improvement in the Elderly

Efficacy of Vestibular Physiotherapy Against Multi-component Exercise in Functional Improvement in the Elderly": Pilot Study of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Loss of vestibular function occurs normally with healthy aging but can produce symptoms that reduce motor skills and cause falls. vestibular physical therapy (VPH) exercises are a specific approach to reducing imbalances. The multicomponent therapeutic physical exercise (ME) is an effective non-pharmacological strategy for the improvement of physical condition.

Objective: to determine the efficacy of ME versus VPH for gait improvement. Material and method: a randomized clinical trial was carried out with two intervention groups , applying it to one VPH group and the other ME.

The participants were residents of Geriatric Centers in the province of Seville, Spain with a score between 4 and 9 points according to the "Short Physical Performance Battery" scale (SPPB).

This pilot study is a controlled and randomized clinical trial (simple ER) with two groups in parallel, comparing the combination of a multi-component therapeutic exercise protocol (ME) versus vestibular exercises (VPH) in over 70 years. The trial was approved by the Ethics Committee on Research with code 2410-N-19 and the study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Males and females over 70 years of age.
• Subjects with a score between 4 and 9 points on the. "Short Physical Performance Battery"" (SPPB) scale

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients unable to walk unaided or those who do not exceed the previous evaluation in SPPB.
• Polypharmacological patients (combined use of beta blockers, sulpiride or betahistin) were also excluded.