Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular deficit (UPVD) experience vertigo, dizziness, disability, negative influences on their quality of life, anxiety, and depression. In vestibular rehabilitation, virtual reality (VR) has proven to be effective. This investigation sought to evaluate the efficacy of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit (BRU(TM)) (Medicaa(TM) Montevideo, Uruguay, Balance Suite, version BRU 415) in patients with UPVD. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled study involved 38 patients from the Otoneurologic Service at the National Institute of Rehabilitation "Luis Guillermo Ibarra Ibarra" in Mexico. A physician specialist diagnosed the patients with UPVD and assigned them randomly to one of two groups. Group 1 (n = 19) received traditional vestibular rehabilitation, whereas Group 2 (n = 19) received BRU(TM)-supported vestibular rehabilitation. Both groups were monitored by medical professionals. Patients were evaluated with the Dizziness Handicap Inventory, static and dynamic balance assessments, the dynamic gait index, and the sensory organization test. The statistical analysis was conducted using the Student's t-test, with p 0.05 considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The difference in mean age between the conventional therapy and BRU(TM) groups was not statistically significant. Both conventional vestibular rehabilitation and the BRU(TM) led to statistically significant improvements in all assessed parameters, with no statistically significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Balance, mobility, and quality of life were enhanced similarly in UPVD patients by BRU(TM)-supported vestibular rehabilitation and conventional vestibular rehabilitation. In addition, BRU(TM) facilitated patient motivation, exercise feedback, and confidence enhancement.