Vestibular rehabilitation strategies of the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a strategy for vestibular rehabilitation in accordance with the Japanese Guideline for Vestibular Rehabilitation. Tokyo: Kanehara Shuppan; 2024, edited by the Japan Society for Equilibrium Research (JSER).

METHODS

The Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines of JSER formulated eleven clinical questions (CQs) concerning vestibular rehabilitation and conducted literature searches on CQs.

RESULTS

The Committee for Standards in Diagnosis of JSER proposed an exercise program for vestibular rehabilitation consisting of head motion, balance, gait, and habituation exercises for patients with chronic unilateral peripheral vestibular hypofunction. The Committee for Clinical Practice Guidelines of JSER proposed recommendations to answer each CQ by considering the effectiveness of intervention, strength of evidence, resource implications, and balance between benefits and harm determined from literature review.

CONCLUSION

Vestibular rehabilitation is strongly recommended to improve vestibular symptoms, gaze instability, postural imbalance, and gait impairment in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular hypofunction.