Effectiveness of vestibular physical therapy on balance and dizziness in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Diego Piatti, Gianluca Paolocci, Daniel Hector Verdecchia et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed vestibular physical therapy (VPT) for balance and dizziness in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Sixteen articles were included, most comparing VPT with other conventional approaches. The pooled analysis found a significant effect favouring VPT over control on dizziness-related disability measured by the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (Hedges’ g = 1.451, CI [0.190, 2.713]). The review also evaluated balance confidence using the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, but the abstract reports no quantitative result for that outcome. The authors describe VPT as safe and call for further research.
Key findings
- Across included studies, VPT significantly favoured control for Dizziness Handicap Inventory outcomes (Hedges’ g = 1.451, CI [0.190, 2.713]).
- Sixteen articles were included; most compared VPT with other conventional approaches.
- Risk-of-bias assessment identified deficiencies in blinding participants, assessors, and physiotherapists.
Why it matters
Dizziness-related disability can be an important component of balance problems in MS. The pooled result suggests VPT may help reduce this burden, while the reported risk-of-bias concerns temper confidence in the estimate. The review highlights a potential rehabilitation approach and the need for better-designed studies to clarify its effects and how assessment can be improved.
What to keep in mind
The included studies had deficiencies in blinding participants, assessors, and physiotherapists. The abstract does not report the pooled result for balance confidence.