The Effectiveness of Group-based Vestibular Rehabilitation in Adults With Central or Peripheral Vestibular Dysfunction: A Systematic Review

AND PURPOSE: Vestibular dysfunction causes dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues, reducing quality of life. Its high prevalence highlights the need for efficient, equitable management, such as group-based rehabilitation. This systematic review examined the effectiveness of group-based vestibular rehabilitation for adults with central or peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

Continue reading at PubMed

✦ The floor

Discussion

Signed responses from readers of the wire.

✦ Clinical Takeaway ✦

Audiologists and vestibular rehabilitation providers should review this systematic review to determine whether group-based vestibular rehabilitation offers comparable outcomes to individual therapy, which could expand access and reduce cost in balance disorder management.

✦ Why It Matters ✦

If group-based vestibular rehabilitation proves effective, it could significantly improve access to care for patients with dizziness and balance disorders while reducing the resource burden on clinics.

✦ Key Points ✦

01Systematic review evaluating group-based vestibular rehabilitation (GVR) for adults with dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems.
02Covers both central vestibular dysfunction (brain-related) and peripheral vestibular dysfunction (inner-ear-related).
03Group therapy format could improve cost-efficiency and patient access compared to one-on-one sessions.
04Published in Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy, indicating cross-disciplinary relevance to audiology and physical therapy.
05Outcome measures likely include dizziness severity, balance function, and quality of life.

✦ Claims & Evidence ✦

ClaimEvidenceSupport

Group-based vestibular rehabilitation is effective for adults with central or peripheral vestibular dysfunction.

studyunclear

✦ Research metadata ✦

PMID: 42610560
DOI: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000579.
Journal: Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy
Publication type: systematic_review
Evidence level: 1a
Population: Adults with central or peripheral vestibular dysfunction presenting with dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues
Intervention: Group-based vestibular rehabilitation
Comparator: Individual vestibular rehabilitation or control conditions (implied)

Primary outcomes

Dizziness severity; Balance function; Quality of life

✦ Related stories ✦

PubMed·Clinical trial·Vestibular·2mo ago

Endolymphatic duct blockage for Ménière's disease: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

Await full results publication and effect-size data before adopting endolymphatic duct blockage; findings from this RCT may eventually shift surgical management of Ménière's disease, but no practice change is warranted until the complete trial data are reviewed.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·3mo ago

Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation with Virtual Reality in Adults with Vestibular Dysfunction: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis provides the strongest available evidence class on VR-based vestibular rehabilitation; if results are positive, audiologists and vestibular therapists should consider VR as an adjunct or alternative to conventional rehab, pending review...

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·6w ago

Targeted Vestibular Rehabilitation Accelerates Symptom Relief by Promoting Vestibular Compensation in BPPV Patients With Residual Symptoms: Evidence From Resting-State fMRI

Targeted vestibular rehabilitation therapy should be considered for BPPV patients with residual dizziness after canalith repositioning, as fMRI evidence now provides a neurological basis for its benefit in this subgroup.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·3mo ago

Betahistine for residual dizziness after canalith repositioning in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Audiologists and vestibular specialists managing post-CRM residual dizziness in BPPV patients should review this systematic review's pooled findings; if betahistine shows significant benefit, it may warrant a protocol update in collaboration with referring physicians.

PubMed·Clinical trial·Vestibular·2w ago

Efficacy of Incremental Vestibular Ocular Reflex Adaptation Training on Gait, Balance, and Quality of Life in Individuals With Chronic Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: A Randomized Controlled Trial

If results favour the intervention, audiologists and vestibular rehabilitation specialists should consider incremental VOR adaptation training as a structured add-on or alternative to standard vestibular rehabilitation for chronic peripheral vestibular hypofunction patients.

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·4mo ago

Comparative efficacy of non-pharmacological interventions for persistent postural-perceptual dizziness: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of balance, anxiety, and depression outcomes

Audiologists and vestibular specialists managing PPPD should review the ranked treatment outcomes from this network meta-analysis to inform which non-pharmacological interventions — such as vestibular rehabilitation, CBT, or mindfulness — are most likely to address balance,...

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·3mo ago

Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation versus written instructions after acute vertigo: A randomised controlled trial

If internet-based vestibular rehabilitation proves superior to written instructions, clinicians treating acute vestibular syndrome in emergency settings should consider recommending structured online rehab programs as a first-line follow-up resource — pending full review of the...

PubMed·Journal article·Vestibular·3mo ago

Efficacy of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy on Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo After Repositioning: Improvement of Vestibular Symptoms and Vertigo Disability

Audiologists and vestibular specialists should consider recommending vestibular rehabilitation therapy following canalith repositioning in BPPV patients, as this RCT-level evidence suggests it meaningfully reduces residual vestibular symptoms and vertigo-related disability.