Usefulness of optokinetic training in complex vestibular rehabilitation
Abstract
Abstract
The complex vestibular rehabilitation contains medical treatment and rehabilitation training program. Mostly the balance training means statokinetic exercises, though the training of the vestibulo-ocular pathways are as important as of the vestibulospinal pathways.
The examination of the optokinetic eye movements is the important part of the vestibular examination. Mostly the routine test battery of the electronystagmography contains the optokinetic and smooth pursuit eye movement tests.
In the Otoneurological department of the Semmelweis University we use smooth pursuit eye-movement tests and optokinetic tests for the eye movement examination.
In the optokinetic test the target points are moving horizontally with 20 degree/seconds.
In the smooth pursuit eye movement test: a stimulus for the test is a light target moving in a sinusoidal pattern including 3 cycles of each the following frequencies 2,3,4,5,6,7 Hz in a 34 degree screen. The amplitude of the movement is 16.7 degrees.
Author use these optokinetic eye-movement and smooth pursuit eye movement for the training of vestibuloocular pathways in patients who are treated with vasoactive drug infusion. For measuring the improvement of the patients, author use a Dizziness Handicap Inventory questionnaire. Patients fill the questionnaire before and after the 10 days long treatment, and 4-5 weeks after the treatment.
The results show that the optokinetic eye movement training is very useful in the complex vestibular rehabilitation. The quality of life became better after this training, and the severe complaints connected to the vestibular disorders are improved.
