THE VESTIBULAR LABYRINTH IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Copyright © 2001 by the New York Academy of Sciences
description
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 942:394-412 (2001)
© 2001 New York Academy of Sciences
Strategies for Balance Rehabilitation
Fall Risk and Treatment
SUSAN J. HERDMANa,
MICHAEL C. SCHUBERTa AND
RONALD J. TUSAb
aDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, 33022, USA
bDepartments of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 33022, USA
Address correspondence: Susan J. Herdman, Ph.D., Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, 1441 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 33022. Voice: (404) 712-1959.
sherdma{at}emory.edu
Identification of fall risk for patients with known vestibular hypofunction is important because it affects the management and the level of independence of these patients. Patients with bilateral vestibular loss, overall, have a greater incidence of falls than the general community-dwelling population over the age of 65 years. In younger patients, the incidence of falls may be related to severity of vestibular loss and to overconfidence or a lack of caution in activities. Preliminary reports suggest that vestibular rehabilitation can reduce the fall risk in patients with vestibular loss.
Key Words: Vestibular • Falls • Rehabilitation
| 
