VRT effects on residual dizziness (Heydari et al., 2021)

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the additional effect of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) compared with the modified Epley procedure alone on residual dizziness after a successful modified Epley procedure in patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

Method: In this cross-sectional analytical comparative study, 47 patients (35 women and 12 men) aged 18–80 years with posterior canal BPPV were randomly assigned to one of two following groups: the control group, who received the modified Epley procedure only, and the VRT group, who received the modified Epley procedure plus vestibular rehabilitation for 4 weeks. Outcome measures, including the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), the Vertigo Symptom Scale–Long Version (VSS-L), and the Vertigo Symptom Scale–Short Form (VSS-SF), were conducted on the same session before initial therapy (T1), at 48 hr later (T2), and at 4 weeks later (T3). Presence or absence of residual dizziness was evaluated at T2.

Results: Residual dizziness was found in 20 (42.6%) patients after a successful modified Epley procedure. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean DHI, VSS-L, and VSS-SF scores at T1, T2, and T3 in patients who manifested with residual dizziness and those without residual dizziness in both groups. The average DHI, VSS-L, and VSS-SF score reduced during the time in both groups. These results were demonstrated that the VRT group and the control group have similar reductions in symptoms after treatment with the VRT plus modified Epley procedure and the modified Epley procedure only, respectively.

Conclusions: Residual dizziness is a common condition after a successful modified Epley procedure for BPPV. The VRT plus modified Epley procedure is as effective as modified Epley procedure alone in the management of residual dizziness. Further studies with supervised and customized VRT and longer follow-up periods are needed.

Supplemental Material S1. Self-directed exercises.

Heydari, M., Ahadi, M., Jalaei, B., Maarefvand, M., & Talebi, H. (2021). The additional effect of vestibular rehabilitation therapy on residual dizziness after successful modified Epley procedure for posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. American Journal of Audiology. Advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1044/2021_AJA-20-00171