Establishment of an objective evaluation method for equilibrium disorder and its application to the development of effective vestibular rehabilitation programs.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19800
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Nara Medical University
• Principal Investigator: Shiozaki Tomoyuki 奈良県立医科大学, 医学部, 助教 (70812668)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 前庭リハビリテーション / 前庭脊髄路興奮性 / めまい / 身体活動量

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted the first-ever randomized controlled trial in Japan to investigate the effects of vestibular rehabilitation. Our study revealed that vestibular rehabilitation performed by physical therapists led to an increased subjective sense of vertigo and improved daily activity compared to the lifestyle and exercise guidance provided solely by physicians. Additionally, we established a reliable method for assessing vestibulospinal tract excitability and demonstrated its appropriateness. Utilizing this method, we examined whether a dynamic balance task could induce changes in the excitability of the vestibulospinal tract in healthy individuals. While not all participants showed an increase in vestibulospinal tract excitability, we observed an immediate improvement in postural control ability as the excitability of the vestibulospinal tract increased. Moving forward, we aim to apply these findings to patients suffering from vertigo.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本でのエビデンスが少ない前庭リハビリテーションの効果を示し、今後国内における治療の一般化に重要な知見を示した。また、主観的な評価が中心である前庭リハビリテーションの効果判定に身体活動量や前庭脊髄路興奮性の評価を実施したことは学術的な意義が高いと考える。