Virtual reality versus optokinetic stimulation in visual vertigo rehabilitation

• Published in: European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology Vol. 279; no. 3; pp. 1609 - 1614
• Main Authors: Mandour, Alaa El-sayed, El-Gharib, Amani Mohamed, Emara, Afaf Ahmad, Elmahallawy, Trandil Hassan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.03.2022
• Subjects: Dizziness; Exercise Therapy; Head and Neck Surgery; Humans; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Miscellaneous; Neurosurgery; Otorhinolaryngology; Quality of Life; Vertigo - rehabilitation; Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy; Visual vertigo; Optokinetic stimulation; Vestibular rehabilitation; Virtual reality
• ISSN: 0937-4477; 1434-4726; 1434-4726
• DOI: 10.1007/s00405-021-07091-y

Background Visual vertigo (VV) is a condition at which there is worsening or triggering of vestibular symptoms in certain visual environments with large size (full field) repetitive or moving visual patterns as shopping malls. Purpose This work was designed to study effect of virtual reality and optokinetic stimulation on rehabilitation of VV. Method A total of 60 subjects divided into 2 groups that were simply randomized by the concealed envelope method: Group I consisted of 30 VV patients underwent vestibular rehabilitation using virtual reality. Group II consisted of 30 VV patients underwent vestibular rehabilitation using optokinetic stimulation. Results Significant improvement in performance in the two groups after rehabilitation with no statistically significant difference when comparing both groups. Conclusions A combined intense rehabilitation program including OPK stimulation or VR rehabilitation combined with home-based exercises appeared to be equally effective for management of patients with VV and improving their quality of life.