Investigation of the Effects of Task-Oriented Training on Balance and Gait in Patients With Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction
Investigation of the Effects of Task-Oriented Training on Balance and Gait in Patients With Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction
The peripheral vestibular disorder is a heterogeneous disorder that occurs due to unilateral or bilateral involvement of the peripheral vestibular organs in the inner ear, characterized by dizziness, balance disorder, visual blurring with head movements, postural instability, and gait disturbance. In the treatment of vestibular disorders, medical and surgical approaches, as well as vestibular rehabilitation are included. Vestibular rehabilitation should aim at repetitive stimulation of the vestibular sensory organs and improving peripheral sensory inputs by providing strong synaptic plasticity between the hair cells in these organs and the damaged parts of the vestibular system. According to this information, task-oriented training based on the practice of the task in the real environment with plenty of repetition seems to be a suitable method for the requirements of the treatment of vestibular disorders. This study was planned to examine the effects of task-oriented training on balance and gait in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.
Patients with peripheral vestibular disorders refrain from moving because of the increase in dizziness and fear of falling. These patients prefer to stay still and limit themselves even in simple daily life activities such as vacuuming, cleaning the table, and walking. From this point of view, it is thought that using the tasks in daily life or the activities that form the basis of these tasks in treatment as in task-oriented training will reduce the activity limitations caused by vestibular disorders.
In the recovery of the vestibular system, it is important to practice the functions that increase the symptoms with many repetitions. For example, symptoms that occur without head movement in the acute period after vestibular injury resolve rapidly, and disappear to a large extent as vestibular compensation develops. However, as the disease becomes chronic, losses occur in afferent inputs from the vestibular system and cause a negative effect on dynamic reflex functions. Therefore, vestibular rehabilitation should be aimed to stimulate the vestibular sensory organs repeatedly and to improve peripheral sensory inputs by providing strong synaptic plasticity between the hair cells in these organs and the damaged parts of the vestibular system. According to this information, task-oriented training based on the practice of the task in the real environment with plenty of repetition seems to be a suitable method for the requirements of the treatment of vestibular disorders.
In addition, there is evidence that task-oriented training improves balance, mobility, and gait reduces the risk of falls, and improves the quality of life in neurological diseases such as Stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson's disease. This information supports the investigators' idea that task-oriented training may also be beneficial in improving balance and walking performance, which are the main symptoms of peripheral vestibular disorder.
On the other hand, when the investigators examine the literature, there is no study examining the effects of task-oriented education in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.
The primary aim of this study is to examine the effects of task-oriented training on vertigo, dizziness, balance, gait and falls in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. The secondary aim of the investigators' study is to examine the effects of task-oriented training on disability level and quality of life in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders.
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