| 1. |
- Essery, Rosie, et al.
(author)
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The Development of Balance Retraining : An Online Intervention for Dizziness in Adults Aged 50 Years and Older
- 2015
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In: American Journal of Audiology. - : AMER SPEECH-LANGUAGE-HEARING ASSOC. - 1059-0889 .- 1558-9137. ; 24:3, s. 276-279
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose: This article outlines the rationale and development process for an online intervention based on vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). The intervention aims to assist adults aged 50 years and older to self-manage and reduce dizziness symptoms. Method: The intervention was developed according to the person-based approach to digital intervention design focused on accommodating perspectives of target users. A prototype version of the intervention was provided to 18 adults (11 women, 7 men) aged 50 years and older with dizziness. These adults were invited to use the intervention over a 6-week period and, during this time, took part in a think-aloud session. This session sought to understand users' perceptions of how acceptable, engaging, and easy to use they found the online intervention. Results: Users were extremely positive regarding how easy to navigate, visually appealing, and informative they found the intervention. Think-aloud sessions provided valuable data for informing small amendments to further enhance acceptability of the intervention for target users. Conclusions: Informed by these development-phase data, a finalized version of the intervention is now being investigated in a primary care–based randomized controlled trial. Results should provide an understanding of whether VRT can be effectively—especially, cost-effectively—delivered via an online intervention to adults aged 50 years and older.
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| 2. |
- Geraghty, Adam W. A., et al.
(author)
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Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation for adults aged 50 years and over: a protocol for a randomised controlled trial
- 2014
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In: BMJ Open. - : BMJ Publishing Group: Open Access / BMJ Journals. - 2044-6055. ; 4:7, s. e005871-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Dizziness is highly prevalent in older adults and can lead to falls, fear of falling, loss of confidence, anxiety and depression. Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) exercises are effective in reducing dizziness due to vestibular dysfunction, but access to trained therapists is limited. Providing dizzy patients with booklets teaching them how to carry out VR exercises has been shown to be a cost-effective way of managing dizziness in primary care. Internet-based intervention delivery has many advantages over paper-based methods, including the provision of video instructions, automated tailoring and symptom-related feedback. This trial will examine whether an internet-based VR intervention is (1) effective in reducing dizziness and (2) a cost-effective primary care treatment option. Methods/analysis: This will be a single blind, randomised controlled trial carried out in UK primary care. A stand-alone internet-based VR intervention will be compared with routine care in 262 dizzy patients aged 50 years and over. Measures will be taken at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Our primary outcome measure will be the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing dizziness symptoms compared with routine care at 6 months. Cost-effectiveness will be examined along with the effect of the intervention on dizziness-related disability and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Psychological process variables including expectancy, self-efficacy and acceptance will be explored in relation to adherence and symptom reduction. Ethics/dissemination: This trial has undergone ethical scrutiny and been approved by an NHS Research Ethics Committee, Southampton A REC Reference: 13/SC/0119. The findings of this trial will be disseminated to the scientific community through presentations at national and international conferences, and by publishing in peer review journals. Findings will be disseminated to the public through targeted press releases. This trial will provide valuable information on the role of internet interventions in facilitating self-management in older adults.
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| 3. |
- Geraghty, Adam W. A., et al.
(author)
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Internet-Based Vestibular Rehabilitation for Older Adults With Chronic Dizziness : A Randomized Controlled Trial in Primary Care
- 2017
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In: Annals of Family Medicine. - : Annals of Family Medicine. - 1544-1709 .- 1544-1717. ; 15:3, s. 209-216
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: Vestibular rehabilitation is an effective intervention for dizziness due to vestibular dysfunction, but is seldom provided. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of an Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation program for older adults experiencing dizziness in primary care.METHODS: We undertook a single-center, single-blind randomized controlled trial comparing an Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation intervention (Balance Retraining, freely available from https://balance.lifeguidehealth.org) with usual primary care in patients from 54 primary care practices in southern England. Patients aged 50 years and older with current dizziness exacerbated by head movements were enrolled. Those in the intervention group accessed an automated Internet-based program that taught vestibular rehabilitation exercises and suggested cognitive behavioral management strategies. Dizziness was measured by the Vertigo Symptom Scale–Short Form (VSS-SF) at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome was VSS-SF score at 6 months.RESULTS: A total of 296 patients were randomized in the trial; 66% were female, and the median age was 67 years. The VSS-SF was completed by 250 patients (84%) at 3 months and 230 patients (78%) at 6 months. Compared with the usual care group, the Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation group had less dizziness on the VSS-SF at 3 months (difference, 2.75 points; 95% CI, 1.39–4.12; P <.001) and at 6 months (difference, 2.26 points; 95% CI, 0.39–4.12; P = .02, respectively). Dizziness-related disability was also lower in the Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation group at 3 months (difference, 6.15 points; 95% CI, 2.81–9.49; P <.001) and 6 months (difference, 5.58 points; 95% CI, 1.19–10.0; P = .01).CONCLUSIONS: Internet-based vestibular rehabilitation reduces dizziness and dizziness-related disability in older primary care patients without requiring clinical support. This intervention has potential for wide application in community settings.
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| 4. |
- Seemungal, Barry M., et al.
(author)
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The Bárány Society position on 'Cervical Dizziness'
- 2022
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In: Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation. - 1878-6464. ; 32:6, s. 487-499
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper describes the Bárány Society Classification OverSight Committee (COSC) position on Cervical Dizziness, sometimes referred to as Cervical Vertigo. This involved an initial review by a group of experts across a broad range of fields, and then subsequent review by the Bárány Society COSC. Based upon the so far published literature, the Bárány Society COSC takes the view that the evidence supporting a mechanistic link between an illusory sensation of self-motion (i.e. vertigo - spinning or otherwise) and neck pathology and/or symptoms of neck pain - either by affecting the cervical vertebrae, soft tissue structures or cervical nerve roots - is lacking. When a combined head and neck movement triggers an illusory sensation of spinning, there is either an underlying common vestibular condition such as migraine or BPPV or less commonly a central vestibular condition including, when acute in onset, dangerous conditions (e.g. a dissection of the vertebral artery with posterior circulation stroke and, exceedingly rarely, a vertebral artery compression syndrome). The Committee notes, that migraine, including vestibular migraine, is by far, the commonest cause for the combination of neck pain and vestibular symptoms. The committee also notes that since head movement aggravates symptoms in almost any vestibular condition, the common finding of increased neck muscle tension in vestibular patients, may be linked as both cause and effect, to reduced head movements. Additionally, there are theoretical mechanisms, which have not been explored, whereby cervical pain may promote vaso-vagal, cardio-inhibitory reflexes and hence by presyncopal mechanisms, elicit transient disorientation and/or imbalance. The committee accepts that further research is required to answer the question as to whether those rare cases in which neck muscle spasm is associated with a vague sense of spatial disorientation and/or imbalance, is indeed linked to impaired neck proprioception. Future studies should ideally be placebo controlled and double-blinded where possible, with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria that aim for high specificity at the cost of sensitivity. To facilitate further studies in "cervical dizziness/vertigo", we provide a narrative view of the important confounds investigators should consider when designing controlled mechanistic and therapeutic studies. Hence, currently, the Bárány COSC refrains from proposing any preliminary diagnostic criteria for clinical use outside a research study. This position may change as new research evidence is provided.
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