Article

OBJECTIVE: To compare a computer-assisted home exercise program with conservative
home-training following printed instructions in the rehabilitation of elderly
patients with vestibular dysfunction. DESIGN: Single-blind, randomized,
controlled trial. SETTING: Geriatric department of a university hospital.
PARTICIPANTS: Patients with chronic dizziness due to vestibular dysfunction
(N=63) were randomly assigned to either rehabilitation in the clinic followed by
computer-assisted home exercises (intervention group: n=32) or rehabilitation in
the clinic followed by home exercises according to printed instructions (control
group: n=31). INTERVENTIONS: Patients in the intervention group received assisted
rehabilitation by a computer program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements at
baseline and at 8 and 16 weeks were compared. These included the One Leg Stand
Test, Dynamic Gait Index, Chair Stand Test, Motion Sensitivity Test, Short
Form-12, Dizziness Handicap Inventory, and visual analog scale. RESULTS: Both
groups improved significantly during 16 weeks of rehabilitation. However, neither
t tests nor repeated-measures analysis of variance demonstrated any significant
differences between the 2 groups. The overall compliance rate to computer program
exercises during 16 weeks was 57%. CONCLUSIONS: A computer-assisted program to
support the home training of elderly patients with vestibular dysfunction did not
improve rehabilitation more than did printed instructions.
CI - Copyright (c) 2015 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS