Effect of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy on the Daily Life Aspects of Military Men with Persistent Postural- Perceptual Dizziness: A Clinical Trial

Background and Aim: Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) is a type of chronic dizziness without rotation, confusion, or unsteadiness, usually exacerbated by standing, active/passive movements, and complex or moving visual stimuli. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is an effective treatment for people with this disease. This study aimed to determine effect of VRT on the daily life aspects of military men with PPPD. Methods: In this clinical trial, participants were 56 military men with PPPD. They underwent VRT that included exercises for gaze stabilization, adaptation, and habituation. The impact of balance problems caused by PPPD on different physical, emotional, and functional aspects of daily life was evaluated using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) before and one month after the intervention. Results: There was a significant decrease in functional, emotional, physical, and total scores on the DHI after VRT (p<0.001). The DHI scores at baseline showed a moderate handicap (48.64%) which decreased to a mild handicap (24.53%) after VRT. The lowest score at baseline was related to the functional aspect, which showed the highest improvement after VRT. Conclusion: The VRT can improve all aspects (physical, emotional, and functional) of daily life in military men with PPPD and diminishes the severity of symptoms. Therefore, this treatment can be used as a suitable treatment for these patients. IRCT Registration Number: IRCT20230520058237N1   Keywords: Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness; dizziness handicap inventory; vestibular rehabilitation; military