Vestibular rehabilitation in individuals after traumatic brain injury: case series report

• Autor(a) principal: Correia, Anabela Domingos
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: https://doi.org/10.25758/set.2201
• topic: Reeducação vestibular; Estabilidade postural; Incapacidade; Traumatismo crânio-encefálico; Vestibular rehabilitation; Postural stability; Disability; Traumatic brain injury

Introduction – After suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) many individuals experience vertigo and imbalance. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) aims to increase postural stability (PS) and decrease symptomatology and is considered the most important treatment for individuals with vestibular complaints after TBI. Aim of the study – To describe the effects of a personalized VR program on PS and on perceived disability in individuals after TBI. Methods – Retrospective study of consecutive series of 5 individuals (between 48 and 66 years) with complaints of vertigo and imbalance after TBI referenced for VR. At the beginning and at the end of the treatment, PS was evaluated through the modified clinical test sensory interaction in balance (mCTSIB) on Neurocom® Basic Balance Master platform and perceived disability through the Dizziness Handicap Inventory. Six sessions of were performed, consisting of: gaze stability exercises, balance exercises with multisensory stimulation, and in platform with visual biofeedback and optokinetic stimulation. Results – After RV, three individuals presented improved PS and four individuals had a decrease in perceived disability. Discussion – Similar RV programs have been used in post-TBI individuals with positive results, increasing stability and in decreasing symptomatology and disability. Considering the improvements observed in the individuals in this study, the application of an RV program with longer durability may present better results. Conclusions – In most of those individuals, VR decreased perceived disability and increased postural stability, which may contribute to an earlier social and labor reinsertion.