Physiotherapy interventions for motion sickness: A systematic review

Abstract

Motion sickness susceptibility depends on the sensitivity of each individual and the ability of the vestibular system to adapt to continued exposure to the stimulus affecting activities of daily living. For this systematic review, data were extracted from PubMed, Pedro, Cochrane, and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2021 publication dates using the following MESH terms: ‘motion sickness’, ‘exercise’, ‘physiotherapy’, and ‘physical therapy’. A total of 41,789 articles were identified from 2 databases, of which 41,767 were excluded, and 18 were saved for secondary screening. After a detailed review of these articles, 7 articles were selected, including RCTs, case studies, and experimental studies. Strong evidence was identified for 2 strategies used, including breathing techniques and vestibular adaptation exercises. Physiotherapy interventions play an important role for individuals with motion sickness by alleviating the symptoms.