Concurrent vestibular and balance training promotes postural control

What is it about?

Balance instability, following dizziness, is a common symptom of problems that affect our inner ear balance system (i.e., vestibular system). There are several methods used to improve an individual’s inner ear balance problems and these include balance training and headshaking activity to influence reflexive eye movements. However, performing these two activities is underutilized in clinical setting. This study investigated underlying factors behind performing balance training and headshaking activity concurrently on healthy young adults (18-35 yrs) using the NeuroCom Balance Master. Two main training groups performed balance training for 5 consecutive days with either horizontal or vertical rhythmic headshake activity (HHS vs VHS). The third group performed only balance training (NHS) while the fourth group (CTL) did no training. There was a significant improvement in horizontal eye movements for the HHS group (compared to the others), and faster balance recovery for both HHS and VHS groups, as participants were tested on a perturbation platform. Here, the eye movements were more fixated in the HHS group. Also, there was a reflexive horizontal control of eye movements during the test to identify the integrity of the vestibular system. These findings suggest that the training improved eye fixation and balance control in the headshake groups. Better eye fixation during the perturbation test decreases the possibility of dizziness, thus improving balance control. The novel concurrent headshake and balance training protocol, therefore, shows evidence of improving balance control by refining the integrity of the vestibular system.

Featured Image

Photo by Marcus Wallis on Unsplash

Photo by Marcus Wallis on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our novel protocol provides the opportunity to perform both headshake activity and balance training simultaneously, promoting real-time utilization of the underlying mechanisms of balance to improve balance control. The training protocol can serve as a basis to develop rehabilitation protocols for individuals with vestibular-related and balance problems such as those with stroke and traumatic brain injuries.

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