Effectiveness of gaze stability exercises on perceived disability in patients with chronic dizziness from peripheral vestibular dysfunction in National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Gaze Stability Exercises (GSE) are commonly used, effective and simple vestibular rehabilitation exercises used in the treatment of dizziness from peripheral vestibular disorders (PVD). However, due to lack of trained therapists and facilities, vestibular rehabilitation is not used widely in Sri Lankan settings. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effectiveness of home-based GSE to improve the functional, emotional, physical and total disability perceived by patients with chronic dizziness from PVD. METHODS: This single group pretest - post test study was conducted at the Vertigo Clinic of ENT unit, National Hospital of Sri Lanka. Eighteen patients with PVD were treated using a home-based GSE program, designed for practice on a daily basis, three times per day over a six-week period. Patients were evaluated at pre and post treatment assessments by Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). The pre and post treatment DHI mean scores were compared by paired sample t-test and Wilcoxon signed rank test, and DHI severity was compared by McNemar-Bowker test. RESULTS: Significant improvement in DHI mean scores (emotional, functional, physical, and total) and DHI severity were observed in patients after the exercise program (P< 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that short but intense home-based GSE program is effective in improving disability perceived by patients with PVD. However, this exercise program needs to be further customized to the patients’ rate of progression and the factors aggravating their dizziness.