Effect of Vestibular Rehabilitation Program Using a Booklet in Patients with Chronic Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of a supervised home-based vestibular rehabilitation program using a booklet on gait function and dizziness in patients with chronic peripheral vestibular hypofunction.Methods: This was a non-blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Patients (n=42) with chronic peripheral vestibular hypofunction were randomly divided into the vestibular rehabilitation group (VR group; n=20) or the control group (n=22). Patients in the VR group received a supervised home-based vestibular rehabilitation program using a booklet in addition to physician care for 4 weeks. The physical therapist checked the home program when the VR group visited the outpatient clinic once a week. Patients in the control group received physician care only during the trial period. The primary outcome was functional gait assessment (FGA). The secondary outcomes were the dynamic gait index (DGI) and the dizziness handicap inventory (DHI).Results: Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant interaction for FGA, DGI, DHI total, and DHI emotional scores (P