An equilibrium exercise performed by a physical therapist for a patient with intractable dysequilibrium

Abstract

An equilibrium exercise performed by a physical therapist for a patient with intractable dysequilibrium
A thirty-seven-year-old woman diagnosed as having progressive bilateral vestibular dysfunction due to autoimmune inner ear disease was given equilibrium exercises by a physical therapist. The patient mainly complained of dizziness and unsteadiness in walking. She started her rehabilitation program for her vestibular dysfunction at 4 years after the onset of her complaints. She lay on a bed with a posture like a bow, curved to the left. She sat on a chair tilting to the left and recognized the line which deviated to the left as being perpendicular. The deviation at sitting might be caused due to subjective vertical deviation. We instructed her to be aware that her perpendicularity was deviated to the left and to remain aware of that deviation whenever she did anything during her activities of daily living. She was given a rolling exercise on a mat. She also performed a sitting exercise on a chair at the corner of the room, touching the walls with both her shoulders. As she sensed the walls with her shoulders, she could sit perpendicularly by using her superficial and deep feelings. She was additionally given a standing and walking exercise. In order to relearn how to stand and walk without deviation, she stood between two panels which were situated in parallel with the width between them just a little wider than the breadth of her shoulders. She could stand upright and walk straight by using her superficial and deep feelings through touching the panels with her shoulders. She was advised to watch her toes when stepping forward in order to walk straight. She was instructed to be aware of the shift of the pressure on the soles of her feet while walking. She was able to stand and walk without deviation at the time of hospital discharge.