Mohammed Ameer, Li Shutong, Liu Xiao
School of Information Science and Technology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
State Key Laboratory of Integrated Chips and Systems, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China.
Bioengineering (Basel). 2024 Jun 24;11(7):641. doi: 10.3390/bioengineering11070641.
The vestibular system is dedicated to gaze stabilization, postural balance, and spatial orientation; this makes vestibular function crucial for our ability to interact effectively with our environment. Vestibular hypofunction (VH) progresses over time, and it presents differently in its early and advanced stages. In the initial stages of VH, the effects of VH are mitigated using vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), which can be facilitated with the aid of technology. At more advanced stages of VH, novel techniques that use wearable technologies for sensory augmentation and sensory substitution have been applied to manage VH. Despite this, the potential of assistive technologies for VH management remains underexplored over the past decades. Hence, in this review article, we present the state-of-the-art technologies for facilitating early-stage VRT and for managing advanced-stage VH. Also, challenges and strategies on how these technologies can be improved to enable long-term ambulatory and home use are presented.
前庭系统致力于凝视稳定、姿势平衡和空间定向；这使得前庭功能对于我们有效与环境互动的能力至关重要。前庭功能减退（VH）会随着时间发展，其早期和晚期表现有所不同。在VH的初始阶段，可通过前庭康复治疗（VRT）减轻VH的影响，借助技术可促进VRT治疗。在VH的更晚期阶段，已应用使用可穿戴技术进行感觉增强和感觉替代的新技术来管理VH。尽管如此，在过去几十年中，辅助技术在VH管理方面的潜力仍未得到充分探索。因此，在这篇综述文章中，我们介绍了促进早期VRT和管理晚期VH的最新技术。此外，还提出了关于如何改进这些技术以实现长期门诊和家庭使用的挑战及策略。
