Repeated optokinetic stimulation in conditions of active standing facilitates recovery from vestibular deficits

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Abstract
Successful results obtained by training sessions using optokinetic (OK) stimulations in order to rehabilitate patients with balance disorders motivated this study. The purpose of the study was to measure eye movement parameters and body stabilization during OK stimulation before and after the rehabilitation program. Two populations of patients were studied: bilateral and unilateral labyrinthine-defective patients. Before training, the OK nystagmus (OKN) showed irregularities of the slow-phase velocity (SPV) as well as a reduced number of beats (frequency) when compared with a control group of age-matched healthy volunteers. After training, the SPV became more regular (decrease in SD) and the frequency was similar to the control group's (3 Hz). Body stabilization was measured by dynamic posturography (Equitest) at the beginning and at the end of the training program. At the end of the training program, the patients were asymptomatic and there was a significant correlation between the Equitest results and the modification of the OKN parameters.

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