Effectiveness of Gaze Stability and Conventional Exercises on Balance in Vestibular Hypofunction Patients

To determine the effectiveness between gaze stability with conventional exercises and conventional exercises alone on balance in patients with vestibular hypofunction.

Twenty four patients clinically diagnosed with vestibular hypofunction who met the criteria for selection were equally allocated into 2 groups. The group I was taught gaze stability exercises with conventional exercises and group II was taught conventional exercises only. All the patients were instructed to perform the exercises as a home program for 6 weeks with a weekly follow up. Berg Balance Scale and Dizziness Handicap Inventory were used as outcome measures to measure pre and post test values.

Data was analysed to determine the effect of exercises on balance scores within the group and between groups by Wilcoxon Signed Rank test and Mann Whitney U test respectively. The results showed that there was a statistically significant change in balance scores and perceived quality of life within the groups (p<0.003), whereas there was no statistically significant difference in balance scores and perceived quality of life between groups.

The result of the study showed that there was an improvement in balance in both the groups but addition of gaze stability exercises to conventional exercises had a little impact in improving balance. Further studies required to rule out the role of gaze stability exercises.