Efficacy of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Adults with Unilateral Peripheral Vestibular Disease: A systematic review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62827/fb.v27i7.1245Keywords:
Vestibular Diseases; Proprioception; Exercise Therapy; Dizziness; Postural Balance; Quality of Life.Abstract
Introduction: Unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy is characterized by a reduction or loss of vestibular function, potentially causing dizziness, postural instability, oscillopsia, and functional limitation. Objective: To describe the efficacy of exercise-based vestibular rehabilitation in reducing dizziness-related disability in adults with unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy. Methods: A systematic review with meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Randomized clinical trials published between 2020 and 2026 involving adults with unilateral peripheral vestibulopathy undergoing vestibular rehabilitation were included. Searches were performed in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE (Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online), CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online), LILACS/VHL (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature/Virtual Health Library), Embase, and Scopus. The primary outcome was the total score on the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI). Methodological quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool, and the certainty of the evidence was analyzed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) system. Results: Three studies met the eligibility criteria, totaling 178 participants, 155 of whom contributed to the quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant reduction in the total Dizziness Handicap Inventory score in favor of vestibular rehabilitation, with a mean difference of -10.81 points (95% confidence interval: -16.58 to -5.04; p < 0.001). Heterogeneity was null. The certainty of the evidence was moderate. Conclusion: Exercise-based vestibular rehabilitation proved effective in reducing dizziness-related disability, with moderate certainty of evidence.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Ana Laura Zanett Alvarenga, Mellina Giacomin Rocha Salgado, Juliana Carvalho Rezende, Arthur de Andrade Carvalho Moreira, Flávia Regina Borges dos Santos (Autor)
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