Evaluation of an Evidence-Based Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercise on Dizziness- Handicap among patients with Peripheral Vestibular disorders

Background: Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) focuses on exercises that enhance gaze functions related to head movements and postural stability to reduce limitations on daily living activities and improve quality of life. The current study aimed to assess the impact of evidence-based vestibular rehabilitation exercises on dizziness handicap among patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. A quasi-experimental research design was applied to two groups (study & control). Sample: A purposeful sample of 60 adult patients was selected from the speech and audiology clinic of the ear, nose, and throat (ENT) outpatient department at Mansoura University Hospital in Egypt. Tool used to gather data included part I: Structured Interview Questionnaire containing demographic characteristics and health-related data, part II: Dizziness Handicap Inventory Scale, and part III: Vestibular Activities and Participation (VAP) Questionnaire. Results: The study group's within-group intervention demonstrated better results for the functional and emotional domains (p = 0.004& p = 0.010) but not for the physical domain (p = 0.122) compared to the control group, which did not significantly differ in any of the three domains. The study group's mean total VAP score before intervention was 69.30 ± 4.29, whereas the control group's score was 70.67 ± 4.54. The study group's overall VAP score dropped dramatically to 20.53 ± 5.04 after the intervention, while the control group's score remained steady at 67.83 ± 4.05. In conclusion, the study's findings proved the value and efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation exercises. In addition to being safe, rapid, and economical, this therapeutic approach has the potential to enhance the quality of life for people with vestibular issues and could be extensively used in outpatient settings without the need for specific equipment. Recommendations: It is advisable to duplicate the present study under varying circumstances to corroborate its conclusions and extend the duration of the vestibular rehabilitation program to enhance its efficacy across all domains of the dizziness handicap inventory and reinforce follow-up consultations.