Computer-assisted training as a complement in rehabilitation of patients with chronic vestibular dizziness--a randomized controlled trial.

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.