Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Scientific evidence of vestibular rehabilitation in primary health care: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

Purpose

Investigate in the literature the effectiveness of treatments used for vestibular rehabilitation (VR) in PHC.

Research strategy

The search of publications on VR in PHC was carried out in electronic databases MEDLINE (access by PubMed), PEDro and Web of Science.

Selection criteria

Controlled clinical trials were selected in English, Spanish and Portuguese. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using the PEDro scale. The analysis of the results was examined through a critical review of the contents.

Results

Five studies were reviewed in their entirety, with the participants' age group being equal to or older than 18 years (n = 5). The Vertigo Symptom Scale and (60%) and Visual Analog Scale (40%) were the instruments used to evaluate the subjective perception of the symptomatology of vestibular dysfunction. The PEDro Scale revealed that two articles presented a good quality design for conducting the experimental study. The most used intervention proposal was the Yardley Exercises (60%).

Conclusion

Controlled studies provide evidence of positive effects of VR on PHC, with improvements in postural control, functional capacity and quality of life of participants.

Keywords:
Dizziness; Vertigo; Vestibular rehabilitation; Primary health care; Review

RESUMO

Objetivos

Investigar, na literatura, a efetividade de tratamentos usados para reabilitação vestibular (RV) na atenção primária à saúde.

Estratégia de pesquisa

A busca de publicações sobre RV na APS foi realizada nas bases de dados eletrônicas MEDLINE (acesso pela PubMed), PEDro e Web of Science.

Critérios de seleção

Foram selecionados ensaios clínicos controlados nas línguas inglesa, espanhola e portuguesa. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada pela escala PEDro. A análise dos resultados foi contemplada por meio de revisão crítica dos conteúdos.

Resultados

Cinco estudos foram revisados na íntegra, sendo a faixa etária dos participantes igual ou superior a 18 anos (n=5). A Vertigo Symptom Scale (60%) e a Escala Visual Analógica (40%) foram os instrumentos empregados para avaliar a percepção subjetiva da sintomatologia da disfunção vestibular. A escala PEDro revelou que dois artigos apresentaram delineamento de boa qualidade para condução do estudo experimental. A proposta de intervenção mais utilizada foi baseada nos exercícios de Yardley (60%).

Conclusão

Estudos controlados disponibilizam evidências de efeitos positivos da reabilitação vestibular na atenção primária à saúde, com melhoras no controle postural, capacidade funcional e qualidade de vida dos participantes.

Palavras-chave:
Tontura; Vertigem; Reabilitação; Atenção primária à saúde; Revisão

INTRODUCTION

Dizziness is one of the most common and prevalent complaints in clinical practice and affects approximately 20% to 30% of the general population and is more prevalent in women(11 Neuhauser HK, Von Brevern M, Radtke A, Lezius F, Feldmann M, Ziese T, Lempert T. Epidemiology of vestibular vertigo: a neurotologic survey of the general population. Neurology. 2005;65(6):898-904. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000175987.59991.3d. PMid:16186531.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.000017...
,22 Ganança MM, Munhoz MSL, Caovilla HH, Silva MLG, Ganança CF, Ganança FF. Vertigem. Rev Bras Med. 2005;62:325-8. ). Bittar et al.(33 Bittar RSM, Oiticica J, Bottino MA, Ganança FF, Dimitrov R. Population epidemiological study on the prevalence of dizziness in the city of São Paulo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(6):8-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.20130127. PMid:24474479.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.201...
) established the prevalence of dizziness of 42% in a study performed in the city of São Paulo, showing a higher proportion than the one found in other studies. This complaint is frequent in the elderly population and its predominance increases significantly with the advancing age(11 Neuhauser HK, Von Brevern M, Radtke A, Lezius F, Feldmann M, Ziese T, Lempert T. Epidemiology of vestibular vertigo: a neurotologic survey of the general population. Neurology. 2005;65(6):898-904. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000175987.59991.3d. PMid:16186531.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.000017...

2 Ganança MM, Munhoz MSL, Caovilla HH, Silva MLG, Ganança CF, Ganança FF. Vertigem. Rev Bras Med. 2005;62:325-8.

3 Bittar RSM, Oiticica J, Bottino MA, Ganança FF, Dimitrov R. Population epidemiological study on the prevalence of dizziness in the city of São Paulo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(6):8-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.20130127. PMid:24474479.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.201...
-44 Ganança FF, Ganança CF. Reabilitação vestibular: princípios e técnicas. In: Ganança MM, Caovilla HH, Munhoz MSL, Silva MLG. Estratégias terapêuticas em otoneurologia. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2001. p. 33-54. ).

Approximately 85% of complaints of dizziness and vertigo are of vestibular origin, being peripheral or central. Other etiologies are associated with cardiovascular, psychic, visual, proprioceptive and neurological changes. It is estimated that there are more than 300 clinical conditions and about 2,000 etiological agents(22 Ganança MM, Munhoz MSL, Caovilla HH, Silva MLG, Ganança CF, Ganança FF. Vertigem. Rev Bras Med. 2005;62:325-8. ).

Statistical data showed that more or less 85% of dizziness are of peripheral origin, triggered by dysfunction of the vestibular system(33 Bittar RSM, Oiticica J, Bottino MA, Ganança FF, Dimitrov R. Population epidemiological study on the prevalence of dizziness in the city of São Paulo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(6):8-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.20130127. PMid:24474479.
http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.201...
,55 Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48. ). Peripheral vestibular dysfunctions correspond to vestibular disorders in which there is total or partial reduction of vestibular function and these alterations may affect from the inner ear to vestibular nerve, and up to its entrance into the brainstem, not including the vestibular nuclei in the IV floor of the ventricle(66 Bertol E, Rodriguez CA. Da tontura a vertigem: uma proposta para o manejo do paciente vertiginoso na atenção primária. Rev APS. 2008;11:62-73. ).

In subjects with peripheral vestibular disorders, vertigo and dizziness complaints are manifested mainly through postural balance swings, gait disturbance, falls, reducing the stability limit and functional capacity(77 Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48. ,88 Enticott JC, Vitkovic JJ, Reid B, O’Neill P, Paine M. Vestibular rehabilitation in individuals with inner-ear dysfunction: a pilot study. Audiol Neurootol. 2008;13(1):19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434. PMid:17715466.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434 ...
). Vertigo is the rotational sensation of spatial disorientation, while dizziness is the sensation of disruption of body balance(88 Enticott JC, Vitkovic JJ, Reid B, O’Neill P, Paine M. Vestibular rehabilitation in individuals with inner-ear dysfunction: a pilot study. Audiol Neurootol. 2008;13(1):19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434. PMid:17715466.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434 ...
).

The literature shows that the use of medication, surgical resources and vestibular rehabilitation (88 Enticott JC, Vitkovic JJ, Reid B, O’Neill P, Paine M. Vestibular rehabilitation in individuals with inner-ear dysfunction: a pilot study. Audiol Neurootol. 2008;13(1):19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434. PMid:17715466.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434 ...
) are the main forms of treatment of dizziness and vertigo. Within the speech therapy, we emphasize VR, a clinical method based on vestibular compensation and neuronal plasticity, aiming to improve spatial orientation and global balance, improving patients' quality of life (99 Soares SN, Gonçalves MADS, Teixeira CG, Romualdo PC, Santos JN. Influência da reabilitação vestibular na qualidade de vida de indivíduos labirintopatas. Rev CEFAC. 2014;16(3):732-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216201418211.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-02162014...
). VR is densely described in the literature, and its effectiveness is proven, and it can lead to complete healing in 30% of individuals and different degrees of improvement in 85% of them. It should be noted that VR has the advantage of not having side effects(1010 Chang WC, Yang YR, Hsu LC, Chern CM, Wang RY. Balance improvement in patients with benign paroxysmal position vertigo. Clin Rehabil. 2008;22(4):338-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269215507082741. PMid:18390977.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269215507082...
,1111 Tsukamoto HF. Efetividade da Reabilitação Vestibular no tratamento de portadores de queixas vestibulares [Dissertação]. Londrina: Universidade Norte do Paraná; 2014. ).

Disorders of the vestibular apparatus represent a public health problem, since they affect a significant part of the population, compromising the functional capacity, the postural balance and the quality of life of its patients(1212 Sloane PD. Dizziness in primary care. Results from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. J Fam Pract. 1989;29(1):33-8. PMid:2738548. ).

Dizziness is among the most common reasons for consulting a primary care physician. Researchers have reported that almost 45% of outpatients with dizziness are seen and treated by general practitioners or family doctors, who do not always treat the etiology of dizziness(1313 Iwasaki S, Yamasoba T. Dizziness and imbalance in the elderly: age-related decline in the vestibular system. Aging Dis. 2015;6(1):38-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2014.0128. PMid:25657851.
http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2014.0128...
).

Some studies have commented that only a minority of patients should be referred for testing and treatment with specialists, since these are expensive and not always lead to results with definitive and clear diagnosis for the treatment(1414 Franco TB, Magalhães HM. A integralidade na assistência à saúde. In: Merhy EE. O trabalho em saúde: olhando e experienciando o SUS no cotidiano. São Paulo: Hucitec; 2000. p. 125-33. ,1515 Peixoto MCC. A viabilidade e efetividade de um Programa de Reabilitação Vestibular na Atenção Primária à Saúde [dissertação]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2015. ).

Recent research has been presenting the effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation performed at PHC, in order to improve the resolution in the care pathway of the user with dizziness and vertigo (1515 Peixoto MCC. A viabilidade e efetividade de um Programa de Reabilitação Vestibular na Atenção Primária à Saúde [dissertação]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2015. ,1616 Martins TF. Prevalência e Tratamento da Tontura: Investigação do Impacto de Condições de Saúde e Hábitos de Vida na Redução dos Sintomas em Pacientes Submetidos a um Programa de Reabilitação Vestibular na Atenção Primária à Saúde [dissertação]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2016. ).

The present study aimed to summarize the scientific evidence of VR in the PHC and the objective of this review was to investigate in the literature, the effectiveness of treatments used for vestibular rehabilitation in primary health care.

Research strategy

It is a systematic review of the literature, which had the following guiding question: “What is the scientific evidence of vestibular rehabilitation in primary health care?”

To systematize the set of publications on the subject, a survey was carried out in the electronic databases MEDLINE (accessed by PubMed), PEDro and Web of Science, during the months of December 2016 and January 2017.

The searches were done limited to the English, Spanish and Portuguese languages, with no delimitation regarding the date of publication.

Selection criteria

The following keywords were used as a search strategy in the databases: “vertigem (vertigo)” or “tontura (dizziness)” or “reabilitação vestibular (vestibular dizziness)” or “doenças vestibulares (vestibular diseases)” or “equilíbrio postural (postural balance)”,combined with “atenção primária à saúde” or “atenção básica de saúde” or “atenção básica” or “atenção básica à saúde” or “atenção primária” or “cuidados de saúde primários” or “cuidados primários” or “cuidados primarios de saúde (primary health care)”, combined with “ensaio clínico randomizado (randomized controlled trial)” or ensaio clínico (clinical trial).”

The publications that resulted from the initial selection strategy were checked by two independent evaluators searching for the following inclusion criteria: sample aged 18 years or over; subjects with peripheral vestibular dysfunction; controlled clinical study, randomized/not randomized; VR performed in PHC; intervention defined by exercises that aim to restore vestibular function and postural balance, through vestibular neuroplasticity. Reports and case series, editorials and literature reviews were excluded.

Data analysis

The studies reviewed in full were analyzed through a structured script, which included the following items: characteristics of the sample, evaluated outcomes, methodological design, characteristics, results and effects of the PHC intervention.

The primary outcomes were clinically relevant in PHC, characterized by subjective assessment of dizziness, tests to assess postural balance and gait and scales used to mention the impact of dizziness on activities of daily living and quality of life. The secondary outcomes chosen were described by scales that evaluated symptoms secondary to vestibular disorders, such as anxiety and depression, as well as the cost of VR in PHC.

The analysis of the methodological quality of the reviewed studies was measured according to the PEDro scale, which consists of eleven criteria regarding the internal validity and interpretation of the results of experimental studies in the rehabilitation area(1717 PEDro: Physioterapy Evidence Database [online]. 2014 [citado em 2018 Maio 13]. Disponível em: http//www.pedro.org.au ).The scale score is performed by assigning 1 point in the presence of indicators of the quality of the presented evidence and zero point when absent such indicators, being the first criterion (selection of the sample) not punctuated. Thus, the higher the score, the more careful is the study design, evidencing a higher methodological quality and a higher probability of reproducing the presented data(1717 PEDro: Physioterapy Evidence Database [online]. 2014 [citado em 2018 Maio 13]. Disponível em: http//www.pedro.org.au ).

In three of the five studies reviewed in this study, the analysis of the clinical trials, with their respective notes, was available in the PEDro database . Thus, two independent researchers, respecting the evaluation criteria of the platform PEDro, analyzed two articles; and the concordance of these evaluations was analyzed by the Kappa index (k), presenting concordance higher than 95%.

To solve the disagreements between the researchers, during the selection and full text analysis of the articles, a third researcher was asked to verify the divergent questions. Thus, a critical review of the content was performed and compared with other studies that addressed scientific evidence about VR.

RESULTS

The initial keyword search resulted in 421 articles. By means of reading the abstracts, 18 articles with characteristics that could be reviewed were identified. However, when read in full, 13 studies did not meet the inclusion criteria, since 5 studies used samples without complaints or vestibular alterations, while in 7 articles the vestibular rehabilitation was not performed in the PHC as well as in one study VR was not based on habituation exercises with a focus on neuroplasticity. Therefore, 5 controlled clinical trials with VR intervention in PHC fulfilled the criteria for this review and were thus selected for critical content analysis ( Figure 1 ).

Figure 1
Flowchart of the revised articles

Characteristics of samples

The sample size ranged from 57(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
) to 337(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
) subjects submitted to VR intervention, with control group in PHC. In one study, the sample was structured by middle-age and elderly individuals, aged 50 years and over (1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
), and in another(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), the sample was represented only by elderly people aged 65 or over.

The samples were composed of participants of both sexes, with a prevalence of women(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ). It is noted that in an article, the specification of the sample was not described by gender(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
).The most common complaints of vestibular dysfunction were dizziness, body imbalance and postural instability(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...

19 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...

20 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ). The topography of vestibular dysfunction was poorly reported and it was specified in only one of the studies(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
). There was no dietary control in any of the studies and only 2 studies the anti-vertigo medication was restricted during VR(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
).

Evaluated deficits

Primary outcomes: The subjective perception of the symptomatology of vestibular dysfunction was evaluated by the majority of the studies, being the scale of self-perception of vertigo (Vertigo Symptom Scale)(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and the Analog Visual Scale (EVA)(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
) used for this purpose. Other outcomes with emphasis in the evaluations were the static and dynamic body balance(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
). Functional scales that analyze the impact of dizziness on activities of daily living and quality of life were applied in 4 studies, being the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) the most used instrument(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...

20 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ).

Secondary outcomes: The secondary to vestibular dysfunctions symptoms were evaluated in three studies ( 1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), through the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and only one study (1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
) analyzed the effectiveness of VR regarding financial costs in PHC. For this purpose, it was used an instrument that evaluates the total costs of health care related to dizziness per year of life.

Methodological design

All studies were experimental and, only in one research(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
) the selection of subjects did not occur in a random manner. The effectiveness of VR was analyzed by comparing pre-intervention and post-intervention VR measures with the non-intervention group (control)(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...

19 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...

20 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), or with another intervention group other than VR (1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
). All studies performed segment after the intervention period.

The methodological analysis by the PEDro scale (consulted by the platform)(1717 PEDro: Physioterapy Evidence Database [online]. 2014 [citado em 2018 Maio 13]. Disponível em: http//www.pedro.org.au ) revealed that 2 of the articles presented a good quality design for conducting the experimental study and consequently high scientific evidence.

Intervention protocols

The intervention proposals used were the Yardley exercises(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
). The therapy sessions were performed in a group by most of the studies(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), administered weekly(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
) or twice a week(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
). The total time of application of the group exercises ranged from 30 to 40 (1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and 50 minutes(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
).

Most of the studies recommended, through guidelines and booklets, that the exercises should be performed at home, as a way to complement the therapy performed at the health center (1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ). In one of Yardley's studies(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
), the intervention groups also received guidelines containing behavioral cognitive techniques and instructions regarding the correct performance of the exercises in order to promote positive beliefs and greater adherence to treatment.

There was a comparison with a control group in all studies regarding the application of the VR protocol, formed by those who did not perform any type of exercise(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and those who received only the routine care of PHC(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
) ; and in a study(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
), besides the control group, there was a comparison between two intervention groups; those who received telephone support or not.

Effects of intervention

In all studies, positive evidence of VR in PHC was observed.

In the study by Hånsson, Mansson and Håkansson(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
), after three months, the intervention group remained with a significant improvement in unipodal support, in relation to the control group. In the majority of the studies that analyzed the follow-up after six months(2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and one year of intervention(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), it was verified that both groups (experimental and control) reached their previous functional levels and maintained the gains obtained in the period. In only one study (2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
) no statistically significant differences were found after a six-month follow-up.

Among the studies that used as an intervention the Yardley exercises(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), there was improvement of the experimental group, in relation to the control group, in all measures of primary outcome.

Only one study used the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
) and significant differences were observed in the static and dynamic balance, however, no differences were verified in the DHI and the minimization of falls. The study of Yardley(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
), in which the groups were compared regarding telephone support, showed that both interventions were effective and profitable.

Regarding the symptomatology of dizziness, both in the study that used EVA(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
), as in the studies that used the Vertigo Symptom Scale (1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), significant improvements were observed after intervention. Of the 4 studies that used DHI(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...

20 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), in 3(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), minimization of the impact of dizziness on the participants' quality of life was verified. None of the reviewed studies reported adverse effects related to VR intervention.

The synopsis of the controlled clinical trials on VR in PHC is presented in Chart 1 .

Chart 1
Synopsis of controlled clinical trials on vestibular rehabilitation in primary health care

DISCUSSION

Controlled studies with VR intervention in PHC are restricted in the literature. However, despite the scarcity in numbers, the articles selected in this review showed positive evidence of VR in postural control, functional capacity and quality of life of adult and elderly subjects with a diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders.

In a study(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), participants were not randomized, and in two surveys(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) there was no blinding in the randomization, no masking of the subjects, therapists and evaluators. However, it must be considered that the place of studies, primary health care, experiences unique situations in the health care of individuals. In PHC, the gateway to the Brazilian health system, a controlled trial, even without blindness in evaluations, should be considered since it strengthens and encourages innovative practices in this level of care.

Two studies(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
) were performed only with the elderly, because it is a group with peculiar functional characteristics. The fact that the sample is more homogeneous, allows greater control of the biases of confusion that can be inferred in the analysis of the effectiveness of VR. Adequate identification of vestibulopathy is indispensable for implantation of the best type of treatment (66 Bertol E, Rodriguez CA. Da tontura a vertigem: uma proposta para o manejo do paciente vertiginoso na atenção primária. Rev APS. 2008;11:62-73. ). The literature agrees that VR exercises minimize sensory conflict in elderly people with dizziness and body imbalance. Age factor is not considered limiting for the final treatment response(22 Ganança MM, Munhoz MSL, Caovilla HH, Silva MLG, Ganança CF, Ganança FF. Vertigem. Rev Bras Med. 2005;62:325-8. ,55 Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48.

6 Bertol E, Rodriguez CA. Da tontura a vertigem: uma proposta para o manejo do paciente vertiginoso na atenção primária. Rev APS. 2008;11:62-73.
-77 Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48. ). In addition, vestibular changes are more common in the elderly(22 Ganança MM, Munhoz MSL, Caovilla HH, Silva MLG, Ganança CF, Ganança FF. Vertigem. Rev Bras Med. 2005;62:325-8. ), the type of population that uses the PHC services the most(66 Bertol E, Rodriguez CA. Da tontura a vertigem: uma proposta para o manejo do paciente vertiginoso na atenção primária. Rev APS. 2008;11:62-73. ).

The Vertigo Symptom Scale (VSE)(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...

20 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and the EVA(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
) were the instruments used to evaluate patients' subjective perception regarding the degree of intensity of dizziness, instability and body imbalance, among the evaluated outcomes. Another subjective instrument used to measure the impact of dizziness on the quality of life was DHI(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...

20 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...

21 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
-2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ). Objective measures, such as balance tests, may reveal greater limitations in performance; however, subjective measures consider the individual's perception of the impact of symptoms that are difficult to quantify objectively, such as daily dizziness.

The intervention proposals used were the Yardley exercises(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), which aim to promote visual stabilization of head movements, improve postural stability in situations in which sensory conflicts arise, minimize sensitivity to head movement, and improve static and dynamic body balance(44 Ganança FF, Ganança CF. Reabilitação vestibular: princípios e técnicas. In: Ganança MM, Caovilla HH, Munhoz MSL, Silva MLG. Estratégias terapêuticas em otoneurologia. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2001. p. 33-54.

5 Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48.
-66 Bertol E, Rodriguez CA. Da tontura a vertigem: uma proposta para o manejo do paciente vertiginoso na atenção primária. Rev APS. 2008;11:62-73. ). In the study that used the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey(2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), there was improvement in the study group, in relation to the control group regarding static and dynamic balance, however, there were no differences in the HDI and in the reduction of the risk of falls. This result may be due to the absence of exercises of manipulation of the proprioceptive information with the visual, modification of base of sustentation and other sensorimotor components in the protocol of Cawthorne and Cooksey.

The total time of application of the group exercises ranged from thirty to forty(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
) and fifty minutes(2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), administered weekly(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
), or twice a week(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), therefore, there were no significant differences between the studies regarding the frequency and duration of the sessions. In all the reviewed studies, the authors showed, after VR, reduction or remission of symptoms of dizziness or postural instability and gradual disappearance of static and dynamic body imbalance.

Postural control was assessed by means of static balance tests(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), dynamic(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
) and functional scale(2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ). Static balance tests are easy and quick to apply, but do not evaluate the functional aspects of body balance and mobility. The dynamic and functional tests, evaluate the performance of the individual in tasks based on daily and instrumental activities, as well as characteristics of balance, gait and mobility. Although the functional tests are useful in the delineation of the functional prognosis, they contribute little to determine weakness or muscle shortening or motor incoordination, important signals in the planning of a personalized treatment that can reflect in the effectiveness of the VR. In the studies analyzed, there was no comparison of the effectiveness of the personalized and group VR or under home guidance. However, the most used form was in group(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...

19 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
-2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) providing home guidelines (booklet)(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
). Such strategies would be more appropriate in view of the high demand and costs of providing user services with dizziness in PHC. A study(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
) evaluated the costs of VR in PHC comparing groups that, in addition to VR, and home guidelines (booklet), received/not received telephone support. The analysis of the cost-effectiveness curves showed that the group that received guidelines ( booklet) was more profitable than the group that received telephone support.

The somatopsychic consequences of dizziness caused by vestibular disorders may include anxiety, anxiety, fear of leaving home by themselves, depersonalization, and depressed mood. Three studies(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) evaluated these consequences through HADS and showed a minimization of such symptoms after VR.

One study used behavioral cognitive techniques(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
) and other breathing and relaxation exercises(2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) to complement VR . Such procedures may maximize the effectiveness of treatment, since they stimulate motivation and may contribute to reduce the psychosomatic consequences caused by dizziness, such as anxiety, anguish, depressed mood, among others.

Three studies were conducted in England(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ) and two, in Sweden(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), by professionals in the area of Physical Therapy(1818 Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr7...
,2020 Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e328...
), Nursing and Psychology(1919 Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237 ...
,2121 Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141...
,2222 Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087. ), evidencing the need for controlled experimental studies on VR in PHC to be performed in Brazil and published. As speech therapists are aware of the benefits and effectiveness of VR, why not publish in this area, helping and improving knowledge referred to the care pathway of patients with dizziness in PHC?

This systematic review synthesized scientific studies on the effectiveness of treatments used for VR in PHC, favoring practice based on evidence.

CONCLUSION

Controlled studies provide evidence of positive effects of vestibular rehabilitation on primary health care, with improvements in postural control, functional capacity and quality of life of the users.

The research reinforces the acceptability of the use of simple and low cost protocols for the treatment of patients in PHC. However, the literature dealing with VR in PHC is scarce. It is suggested to carry out new studies with improved methodological designs to clarify some doubts about VR in this field, such as prognosis for certain diseases, comparison between protocols and evaluation instruments, and time needed to avoid recurrence of symptomatology.

  • Study carried out at Department of Speech Therapy, Federal University of Minas Gerais – UFMG – Belo Horizonte (MG), Brasil.
  • Funding: None.

REFERÊNCIAS

  • 1
    Neuhauser HK, Von Brevern M, Radtke A, Lezius F, Feldmann M, Ziese T, Lempert T. Epidemiology of vestibular vertigo: a neurotologic survey of the general population. Neurology. 2005;65(6):898-904. http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000175987.59991.3d. PMid:16186531.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000175987.59991.3d
  • 2
    Ganança MM, Munhoz MSL, Caovilla HH, Silva MLG, Ganança CF, Ganança FF. Vertigem. Rev Bras Med. 2005;62:325-8.
  • 3
    Bittar RSM, Oiticica J, Bottino MA, Ganança FF, Dimitrov R. Population epidemiological study on the prevalence of dizziness in the city of São Paulo. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;79(6):8-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.20130127. PMid:24474479.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/1808-8694.20130127
  • 4
    Ganança FF, Ganança CF. Reabilitação vestibular: princípios e técnicas. In: Ganança MM, Caovilla HH, Munhoz MSL, Silva MLG. Estratégias terapêuticas em otoneurologia. São Paulo: Atheneu; 2001. p. 33-54.
  • 5
    Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48.
  • 6
    Bertol E, Rodriguez CA. Da tontura a vertigem: uma proposta para o manejo do paciente vertiginoso na atenção primária. Rev APS. 2008;11:62-73.
  • 7
    Gazzola JM, Ganança FF, Perracini MR, Aratani MC, Dorigueto RS, Gomes CMC. O envelhecimento e o sistema vestibular. Fisioter Mov. 2005;18:39-48.
  • 8
    Enticott JC, Vitkovic JJ, Reid B, O’Neill P, Paine M. Vestibular rehabilitation in individuals with inner-ear dysfunction: a pilot study. Audiol Neurootol. 2008;13(1):19-28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434. PMid:17715466.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000107434
  • 9
    Soares SN, Gonçalves MADS, Teixeira CG, Romualdo PC, Santos JN. Influência da reabilitação vestibular na qualidade de vida de indivíduos labirintopatas. Rev CEFAC. 2014;16(3):732-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216201418211.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0216201418211
  • 10
    Chang WC, Yang YR, Hsu LC, Chern CM, Wang RY. Balance improvement in patients with benign paroxysmal position vertigo. Clin Rehabil. 2008;22(4):338-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269215507082741. PMid:18390977.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0269215507082741
  • 11
    Tsukamoto HF. Efetividade da Reabilitação Vestibular no tratamento de portadores de queixas vestibulares [Dissertação]. Londrina: Universidade Norte do Paraná; 2014.
  • 12
    Sloane PD. Dizziness in primary care. Results from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey. J Fam Pract. 1989;29(1):33-8. PMid:2738548.
  • 13
    Iwasaki S, Yamasoba T. Dizziness and imbalance in the elderly: age-related decline in the vestibular system. Aging Dis. 2015;6(1):38-47. http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2014.0128. PMid:25657851.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.14336/AD.2014.0128
  • 14
    Franco TB, Magalhães HM. A integralidade na assistência à saúde. In: Merhy EE. O trabalho em saúde: olhando e experienciando o SUS no cotidiano. São Paulo: Hucitec; 2000. p. 125-33.
  • 15
    Peixoto MCC. A viabilidade e efetividade de um Programa de Reabilitação Vestibular na Atenção Primária à Saúde [dissertação]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2015.
  • 16
    Martins TF. Prevalência e Tratamento da Tontura: Investigação do Impacto de Condições de Saúde e Hábitos de Vida na Redução dos Sintomas em Pacientes Submetidos a um Programa de Reabilitação Vestibular na Atenção Primária à Saúde [dissertação]. Belo Horizonte: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2016.
  • 17
    PEDro: Physioterapy Evidence Database [online]. 2014 [citado em 2018 Maio 13]. Disponível em: http//www.pedro.org.au
  • 18
    Hånsson EE, Mansson NO, Håkansson A. Effects of specific rehabilitation for dizziness among patients in primary health care: a randomized controlled trial. Clin Rehabil. 2004;18(5):558-65. http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa. PMid:15293490.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0269215504cr771oa
  • 19
    Yardley L, Barker F, Muller I, Turner D, Kirby S, Mullee M, Morris A, Little P. Clinical and cost effectiveness of booklet based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness in primary care: single blind, parallel group, pragmatic, randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2012;344:2237-51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237. PMid:22674920.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.e2237
  • 20
    Hånsson EE, Månsson NO, Ringsberg KA, Håkansson A. Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group. Int J Rehabil Res. 2008;31(1):51-7. http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c. PMid:18277204.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MRR.0b013e3282f28e2c
  • 21
    Yardley L, Donovan-Hall M, Smith HE, Walsh BM, Mullee M, Bronstein AM. Effectiveness of primary care-based vestibular rehabilitation for chronic dizziness. Ann Intern Med. 2004;141(8):598-605. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007. PMid:15492339.
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-141-8-200410190-00007
  • 22
    Yardley L, Beech S, Zander L, Evans T, Weinman J. A randomised controlled trial of exercise therapy for dizziness and vertigo in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 1998;48(429):1136-40. PMid:9667087.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    03 Dec 2018
  • Date of issue
    2018

History

  • Received
    23 May 2018
  • Accepted
    09 Oct 2018
Academia Brasileira de Audiologia Rua Itapeva, 202, conjunto 61, CEP 01332-000, Tel.: (11) 3253-8711, Fax: (11) 3253-8473 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revista@audiologiabrasil.org.br