Effects of vestibular rehabilitation therapy versus virtual reality on balance, dizziness, and gait in patients with subacute stroke: A randomized controlled trial

Stroke is a neurological disorder with a vascular cause, such as cerebral infarction or hemorrhage, and causes dizziness, balance, and gait impairments in patients. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) involves a variety of exercises that can improve balance, gait, and gaze stability in stroke patients by affecting the vestibular system and improving dynamic balance. By providing a virtual environment, the use of virtual reality (VR) can aid stroke patients in improving their balance and gait. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the comparative effects of vestibular rehabilitation with virtual reality on dizziness, balance, and gait in patients with subacute stroke. METHODS: The randomized clinical trial involved 34 subacute stroke patients randomly assigned to 2 groups; 1 received VRT and the other VR treatment. To assess mobility and balance, the Time Up and Go test was used, the Dynamic Gait Index was used to assess the gait, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory was used to determine the level of dizziness symptoms. Each group received 24 sessions of allocated treatment, 3 sessions every week for 8 weeks. Using SPSS 20, both groups pretest and posttest readings were analyzed and compared. RESULTS: Between the VR and VRT groups, balance (P−.01) and gait (P−.01) were significantly improved in the VR group, while dizziness was significantly improved in the VRT group with P < .001. On within-group comparison, both groups showed significant improvements in balance, gait, and dizziness with P < .001. CONCLUSION: Both vestibular rehabilitation therapy and VR improved dizziness, balance, and gait in subacute stroke patients. However, VR was more effective in improving balance and gait among patients with subacute strokes.