Efficacy of multisensory training and rehabilitation in patients with balance disorders

Objective: To analyze the clinical efficacy of multisensory training and rehabilitation treatment in patients with balance disorders. Methods: From January to December 2020, 95 patients with balance disorders in the Vertigo Center of Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology were enrolled. All patients were treated according to the treatment guidelines of Chinese Medical Association or expert consensus. Those with poor recovery or unsatisfactory treatment results underwent multisensory training and rehabilitation for 1 month after a comprehensive evaluation. The scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC), Somatization Symptom Self-Rating Scale (SSS), 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD7) were evaluated and compared before and after the treatment. Results: Totally, 95 patients were enrolled. There were 34 males and 61 females, aged (44±14) years. VAS (2.1±1.1 vs 5.9±2.5, P<0.01), DHI (15.6±7.7 vs 33.1±13.2, P<0.01), SSS (1.5±0.6 vs 2.4±0.8, P<0.01), PHQ9 (6.0±2.7 vs 8.6±4.3, P=0.01) and GAD7 (5.2±2.6 vs 9.5±2.8, P<0.01) decreased after treatment, while BBS (53.4±10.0 vs 34.8±10.7, P<0.01) and ABC (89.6±8.0 vs 55.7±21.8, P<0.01) increased. Conclusion: Multisensory training and rehabilitation therapy can effectively enhance the vertigo control rate and balance ability in patients with balance disorders, reduce the risk of falling, promote their mental and psychological state, and thus improve the quality of life.