Vestibular Rehabilitation: Improving Symptomatic and Functional Outcomes of Persons With Vestibular Schwannoma: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Persons with vestibular schwannoma suffer from dizziness, imbalance, and decreased function leading to reduced quality of life. Other forms of peripheral vestibular hypofunction show improvements in these signs and symptoms with vestibular rehabilitation; however, the efficacy of this intervention for those with vestibular schwannoma is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review was to determine the effect of vestibular physical therapy on subjective and objective measures of vestibular symptoms and function in people with vestibular schwannoma.

Methods: Four electronic databases were searched: PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Cochrane. Included studies were experimental or observational in design and featured patients with vestibular schwannoma who had undergone vestibular physical therapy. Screening and quality assessment was completed independently by 2 researchers. Risk of bias was assessed with a tool appropriate for study design (eg, Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool for randomized trials). The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach was used to synthesize findings.

Results: Twenty-three studies were included. Overall, the effect of vestibular physical therapy for patients with vestibular schwannoma was uncertain. Outcomes of dizziness, static and dynamic balance, and vestibular function all showed very low certainty on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation assessment. Multimodal physical therapist interventions consistent with clinical practice guidelines (eg, gaze stability, habituation, balance training, gait training) demonstrated potential for improvement in dizziness, balance, and vestibular function, respectively. Results were mostly insignificant when a single modality was used.

Conclusion: There may be benefit in multimodal vestibular physical therapy for people with vestibular schwannoma to improve symptoms and function. More high-quality studies specific to vestibular schwannoma prehabilitation and rehabilitation are needed to increase the certainty in the evidence.

Impact: Physical therapists are encouraged to use multimodal vestibular rehabilitation for vestibular schwannoma in clinical practice in line with clinical guidelines for peripheral vestibular hypofunction.