Vestibular Rehab Part 2 Flashcards
What does the vestibular ocular reflex do?
- Maintain stability of an image on the fovea of the retina during rapid head movements
- Eyes move opposite the head
Peripheral Vestibular system connects to Central vestibular system pathways where?
Brainstem
What is VOR gain?
Relationship of eye velocity to head velocity (head & eyes move in opposite direction at equal speeds)
What is VOR Phase?
Relationship of amplitude between eyes & head
What is the definition of Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (UVH)?
One vestibular apparatus is “hypo functioning” = low tonic firing rate
What are some common diagnoses of UVH?
- Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis
- Meniere’s Disease
- Perilymph Fistula
- Vestibular Schwannoma/ Acoustic Neuroma
- Chronic BPPV
What is Vestibular neuritis and what does it result in?
- Inflammation of the vestibular part of the nerve
- Results in vertigo only
What is Vestibular labyrinthitis and what does it result in?
- Inflammation of both branches of CN VIII
- Results in vertigo & hearing loss
What should be done during the acute phase of Vestibular labyrinthitis?
- Rest
- Medication for dizziness
- Antibiotics if bacterial
What should be done during the chronic phase of Vestibular labyrinthitis?
Vestibular rehab may be helpful
What is Ménière’s disease?
Abnormal fluctuations in endolymphatic fluid
Should you treat a patient during an episode of Meniere’s disease?
No
How long do Meniere’s attack last? And what are some of the symptoms?
- 2-4 hours
- Low frequency hearing loss
- Episodic vertigo
- Sense of fullness in ear
- Tinnitus
- Nausea, vomiting
What is the medical treatment of Ménière’s disease?
- Reducing fluid buildup
- Reduced sodium diet
- Avoid caffeine
- Alcohol
- Smoking
- Surgery (may be considered)
What is Perilymph Fistula?
- Rupture of the oval or round window (separate middle from inner ear)
- Perilymph leaks into the middle ear
What is Perilymph Fistula caused by?
Excessive pressure changes (diving), blunt head trauma, extremely loud noise
What are the symptoms of Perilymph Fistula?
- Vertigo
- Hearing loss
Is vestibular rehab supported for Perilymph Fistula?
Contraindicated but may be beneficial after surgery
What is the medical treatment for Perilymph Fistula?
- Bed rest
- Surgical repair
What is Vestibular Schwannoma/ Acoustic Neuroma?
- Benign tumor from the Schwann cells that gradually compress CN VIII
- CN VII may also be impacted
What are the symptoms of Vestibular Schwannoma/ Acoustic Neuroma?
- Unilateral Healing Loss
- Tinnitus
- Vertigo
What is the medical treatment for Vestibular Schwannoma/ Acoustic Neuroma?
Surgical excision
When is vestibular rehab recommended to started if someone has a Vestibular Schwannoma/ Acoustic Neuroma?
Early after surgery
What are the acute symptoms (first 2 weeks) of Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction?
- Vertigo
- Nausea
- Spontaneous Nystagmus (unidirectional)
- Oscillopsia
- Disequilibrium,
- Gait/Postural instability may be present
What are the subacute (2wk to 3 months) and chronic (>3 months) symptoms?
- Reduction of vertigo, nystagmus & nausea within 14 days (spontaneous rebalancing of the resting tonic firing rate)
- Gait instability
- Oscillopsia
- Head movement induces symptoms
In spontaneous nystagmus during UVH the fast phase does toward the good ear or the bad ear?
Good ear
- Slow phase goes to bad ear
Why does the patient with an acute unilateral vestibular lesion experience spontaneous nystagmus?
- Brain stem is receiving greater afferent input from the intact labyrinth, which responds by generating nystagmus
- Patient interprets this as rotation (vertigo)
What is oscillopsia?
Stationary objects in the environment appear to be in motion when the patient is in motion
What is Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction?
Caused by reduced or absent function of both peripheral vestibular sensory organs and/or nerves
What are some common diagnoses of Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction?
- Idiopathic
- Ototoxcity
- Meningitis
- Autoimmune disorders
- Bilateral Meniere’s Disease or vestibular neuritis
- Neurotoxicity from cancer treatment
- TIA of blood vessels
- Bilateral Schwannoma
How does BVH: ototoxicity occur?
Certain classes of antibiotics are gradually taken by the hair cells & continue to build in the system rendering the cells unable to respond accurately to head movements
How does BVH: Neurotoxicity from chemotherapy occur?
Platinum- based chemo (cisplatin) damage sensory hair cells
What are the symptoms of Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction?
- Imbalance
- Gait ataxia
- Oscillopsia causing decreased visual acuity with head movements
- Difficulty walking in dark and on uneven surfaces
Do patients with Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction have vertigo or nystagmus?
NO
What is the definition of Central Vestibular Dysfunction?
- Pathology of vestibular system proximal to the vestibular nuclei
- Begin in brainstem, or beyond (connections with reticular formation, thalamus, cerebellum, cortex)
What are common diagnoses of Central Vestibular Dysfunction?
- Stroke
- TBI or Concussion
- MS
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Cerebellar Pathology
- Migraine related dizziness
- Brain Tumor
What are the symptom of Central Vestibular Dysfunction?
- Nystagmus
- Vertigo (if present very mild. little change in head position)
- Dysequilibrium & balance deficits
- May see: Laterpulsion, Head tilt, oculomotor dysfunction, perceptual; deficits
- Other neuro findings: Dysphagia, dysmetria, dysarthria, diplopia, dysphonia
What does nystagmus look like in Central Vestibular Dysfunction?
- Pendular
- Oscillate at equal speeds (no slow/fast phase)
- Bilateral nystagmus on lateral gaze
- Typically never resolves
- Unable to stop with visual fixation
What is motion sickness due to and can vestibular rehab help?
- Due to sensory conflicts
- Vestibular rehab may help
What is Mal de Debarquement? Can PT help?
- Feeling sick upon disembarkment (exciting from water or airborne vessel)
- Persistent rocking, swaying while at rest that typically resolved during motion
- Persists >24 hours
- PT may not offer benefit
What causes cervicogenic dizziness and what is the treatment?
- From cervical spine or soft tissue, affects proprioceptive input & alter afferent inout
- Cervical spine sends proprioceptive input to contralateral vestibular nucleus
- Treatment: address musculoskeletal impairments first then do vestibular rehab
What should be ruled out before beginning vestibular rehab?
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Hypoglycemia
- LE somatosensory loss
A patient demonstrates a fast beat nystagmus to the left. Where is the pathology?
Right vestibular system
What are some Vestibular System red flags?
- Unilateral hearing loss (Not Menieres)
- Discharge of fluid from the ear
- Syncope with light headedness
- Alterations in consciousness
- Positive VBI
- If no known central pathology and presenting with new onset central signs
Smooth Pursuits/ Tracking is used to rule out what?
Central pathology