Abstract
To investigate the equilibrium function of elderly patients experiencing dizziness caused by age-dependent physiological vestibular dysfunction (presbyastasis) and to evaluate the effects of a vestibular rehabilitation program, the author conducted a new balance training program, referred to as the cross test. Nine patients over the age of 65 years who had presbyastasis and who had complained of equilibrium dysfunction for at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. A standing balance training system with a gravicorder was used to examine the patients' equilibrium. The cross test indicates the equilibrium function based on ankle mobility and the center of gravity when individuals successively move forward, backward, right, and left on the gravicorder. The cross test was performed every one or two months for a total of at least 5 times; the results were then analyzed statistically. After participating in the vestibular rehabilitation program, the range of ankle motion improved in all 9 patients, compared with the pretraining values (p<0.001). These findings suggested that the cross test is a reliable method for estimating equilibrium function and the effects of a balance training program in patients with presbyastasis. Furthermore, the test appears to be associated with a prompt improvement in equilibrium dysfunction and thus may be an effective therapeutic option, in conjunction with medication and conventional vestibular training programs.
