Vestibular rehabilitation exercises in acute vertigo.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To evaluate the effect of vestibular rehabilitation exercises in the early stages of peripheral vestibular disorders.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized trial. Patients were blinded to assignment groups.

METHODS: The study group (45 patients) performed exercises for adaptation of the vestibulo-ocular reflex; the control group (42 patients) performed placebo exercises. Both groups were instructed to use dimenhydrinate (up to 150 mg/d) if symptomatic, irrespective of exercises. Patients were evaluated by visual analogue scale, physical examination, and need to use the medication. All patients were adults and symptomatic for less than 5 days.

RESULTS: The study and control groups were comparable in terms of demographics data and duration and intensity of symptoms. Study group patients recovered faster than controls and used less medication. By 10 to 14 days after the intervention, 43% of study group and 5% of control group patients had no significant symptoms (P < .001), and 67% of study group and 3% of control group patients needed no medication (P < .001). Although both groups had no significant symptoms by the end of the follow-up period (21 days), 14% of the study group patients were still using medication, compared with 83% of the placebo group patients (P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: Vestibular exercises are effective in reducing the duration of symptoms and the need of medication of patients in the early stages of peripheral vestibular disorders.