Knowledge, Barriers, and Future Directions of Vestibular Rehabilitation Practice in Neurorehabilitation: An Italian Survey.

Vestibular rehabilitation, an evidence-based physical therapy approach, plays a crucial role in managing and recovering from gaze and balance disorders, including those of central origin. This study, targeted at the community of Italian healthcare practitioners, is vital in understanding the application of vestibular rehabilitation in neurological disorders and in identifying knowledge gaps, barriers, and future directions. This is a cross-sectional study directed at healthcare professionals involved in neurorehabilitation in Italy. The survey consisted of 29 items grouped in 4 sections, which was estimated to take approximately 10 min to complete. The questions covered socio-demographic information, professional information, clinical practice, and future perspectives on vestibular rehabilitation. Out of the 435 respondents, 290 completed the survey. Most of the respondents reported either no (32.87%) or little (42.91%) experience in vestibular rehabilitation. However, most participants (72.98%) recognized the importance of vestibular rehabilitation in treating neurological disorders. The most common condition treated was stroke (46.39%), while balance training (52.69%) and visual input exercises (26.35%) were the two most frequently used strategies. The main barriers to implementing vestibular rehabilitation in clinical practice were equipment cost and insufficient skills. Vestibular physical therapy is a promising complementary approach in neurorehabilitation. However, the study reveals a perceived lack of basic training in vestibular assessment and therapy. This suggests that more efforts are needed to bridge this knowledge gap and make necessary equipment more accessible.