Vestibular rehabilitation therapy on balance and gait in patients after stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: There is limited evidence to support the use of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) on improving balance and gait in patients after stroke. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of VRT in addition to usual rehabilitation compared with usual rehabilitation on improving balance and gait for patients after stroke. METHODS: This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis statement guidelines. Ten electronic databases were searched up to 1 June 2023 without restrictions in language and publication status. The PEDro scale and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development, and Evaluation were used to evaluate the risk of bias and the certainty of evidence. The meta-analysis was conducted with Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: Fifteen randomised controlled trials with 769 participants were included. PEDro scale was used to assess the risk of bias with a mean score of 5.9 (0.7). VRT was effective in improving balance for patients after stroke (SMD = 0.59, 95% CI (0.40, 0.78), p < 0.00001), particularly for patients after stroke that occurred within 6 months (SMD = 0.56, 95% CI (0.33, 0.79), p < 0.00001) with moderate certainty of evidence. Subgroup analysis showed that VRT provided as gaze stability exercises combined with swivel chair training (SMD = 0.85, 95% CI (0.48, 1.22), p < 0.00001) and head movements (SMD = 0.75, 95% CI (0.43, 1.07), p < 0.00001) could significantly improve balance. Four-week VRT had better effect on balance improvement (SMD = 0.64, 95% CI (0.40, 0.89), p < 0.00001) than the less than 4-week VRT. The pooled mean difference of values of Timed Up-and-Go test showed that VRT could significantly improve gait function for patients after stroke (MD = −4.32, 95% CI (−6.65, −1.99), p = 0.0003), particularly for patients after stroke that occurred within 6 months (MD = −3.92, 95% CI (−6.83, −1.00), p = 0.008) with moderate certainty of evidence. CONCLUSIONS: There is moderate certainty of evidence supporting the positive effect of VRT in improving balance and gait of patients after stroke. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42023434304 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-023-03029-9.