AND PURPOSE: Acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUVP) impairs the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), leading to gaze instability and significant functional disability. Anti-compensatory saccades (AcS) assessed using the Suppression Head Impulse Paradigm (SHIMP) reflect vestibulo-saccadic interaction and may represent a marker of central compensation....
Visuo-vestibular physical therapy appears to alter anti-compensatory saccade patterns in acute unilateral vestibulopathy, but as a prospective observational study without a control group, findings are preliminary; no immediate change to vestibular rehabilitation protocols is warranted pending controlled trials.
Understanding how specific eye-movement biomarkers change with vestibular rehabilitation could help audiologists and physiotherapists objectively track recovery and refine therapy protocols for unilateral vestibulopathy.
- 01Prospective observational design tracked anti-compensatory saccades before and after visuo-vestibular physical therapy.
- 02Participants had acute unilateral vestibulopathy with confirmed VOR (balance-reflex) impairment.
- 03Anti-compensatory saccades are eye movements that may reflect maladaptive or adaptive central compensation.
- 04No control/comparator group limits causal conclusions about therapy effectiveness.
- 05Findings suggest saccade metrics could serve as an objective rehabilitation outcome measure.
Visuo-vestibular physical therapy produces measurable changes in anti-compensatory saccades in people with acute unilateral vestibulopathy.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42379159
- DOI
- 10.1002/pri.70274.
- Journal
- Physiotherapy Research International
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Adults with acute unilateral vestibulopathy and VOR impairment
- Intervention
- Visuo-vestibular physical therapy
Primary outcomes
Changes in anti-compensatory saccade parameters following therapy