Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by spasticity, lower limb weakness, impaired balance, and increased risk of falls. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of vestibular rehabilitation associated with virtual reality (VRi) on functional balance in patients with HSP.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Preliminary signal only; the pilot scale and disease-specific population (hereditary spastic paraplegia) mean audiologists and vestibular therapists should await a fully powered RCT before adopting this protocol for this patient group.
If vestibular rehabilitation proves effective in neurological conditions beyond the inner ear, it broadens the clinical scope of vestibular specialists and may support interdisciplinary referral pathways.
- 01Randomized pilot design evaluating vestibular rehabilitation in hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), a rare neurodegenerative condition.
- 02HSP causes progressive leg stiffness and weakness, contributing to fall risk independent of inner-ear pathology.
- 03Outcomes focused on balance performance and fall risk reduction.
- 04Pilot status means the study is likely underpowered to detect definitive treatment effects.
- 05Findings could inform design of a larger, definitive RCT in this population.
Vestibular rehabilitation can improve balance and reduce fall risk in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42674425
- DOI
- 10.1055/s-0046-1827050.
- Journal
- Journal of Neurological Surgery. Part B, Skull Base
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia experiencing balance deficits and elevated fall risk
- Intervention
- Vestibular rehabilitation (structured balance retraining exercises)
- Comparator
- Control group (nature unspecified in available description)
Primary outcomes
Balance performance; Fall risk