Postural control at posturography with virtual reality in the intercritical period of vestibular migraine

INTRODUCTION: Vestibular migraine is a condition that associates headache and vestibular symptoms. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate body-balance with virtual reality posturography in vestibular migraine. METHODS: A total of 26 patients in the intercritical period of vestibular migraine were compared by means of the Balance Rehabilitation Unit(MT) (Medical/Interacoustics) posturography with 30 controls, paired for age and gender. RESULTS: There was no significant statistical difference (p = 0.121) in the limit of stability area (cm(2)) between the experimental group and the control group values. There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the values of sway velocity (cm/s) in nine of ten evaluated sensory conditions and in the pressure center displacement area (cm(2)) values in eight of those ten sensory conditions in the comparison between the control group and the experimental group. CONCLUSION: Posturography with virtual reality can identify changes in the sway velocity and the pressure center displacement area, characterizing the inability to maintain postural control with and without visual deprivation in situations of visual conflict and vestibulovisual interaction,in the intercritical period of the vestibular migraine.