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Postural and symptomatic improvement after physiotherapy in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin

Karlberg, Mikael LU ; Magnusson, Måns LU orcid ; Malmström, Eva-Maj LU ; Melander, Agneta and Moritz, Ulrich LU (1996) In Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 77(9). p.874-882
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess postural performance in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin in whom extracervical causes had been excluded, and to assess the effects of physiotherapy on postural performance and subjective complaints of neck pain and dizziness. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care centers and a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND SUBJECTS: Of 65 referrals, 43 patients were excluded because extracervical etiology was suspected. Of the remaining 22 patients, 17 completed the study (15 women, 2 men, x age 37 yr, range 26-49). The controls were 17 healthy subjects (15 women, 2 men, x age 36 yr, range 25-55). INTERVENTION: Physiotherapy based on analysis of symptoms and findings, and... (More)
OBJECTIVE: To assess postural performance in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin in whom extracervical causes had been excluded, and to assess the effects of physiotherapy on postural performance and subjective complaints of neck pain and dizziness. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care centers and a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND SUBJECTS: Of 65 referrals, 43 patients were excluded because extracervical etiology was suspected. Of the remaining 22 patients, 17 completed the study (15 women, 2 men, x age 37 yr, range 26-49). The controls were 17 healthy subjects (15 women, 2 men, x age 36 yr, range 25-55). INTERVENTION: Physiotherapy based on analysis of symptoms and findings, and aimed to reduce cervical discomfort. Patients were randomized either to receive immediate physiotherapy (n = 9), or to wait 2 months, undergo repeat measurements, and then receive physiotherapy (n = 8). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Posturography, measuring velocity and variance of vibration-induced body sway and variance of galvanically induced body sway. Subjective intensity of neck pain (Visual Analog Scale ratings, 0-100), intensity and frequency of dizziness (subjective score 0-4). RESULTS: The patients manifested significantly poorer postural performance than did healthy subjects (.05 > p > .0001). Physiotherapy significantly reduced neck pain and intensity and the frequency of dizziness (p < .01), and significantly improved postural performance (.05 > p > .0007). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin are characterized by impaired postural performance. Physiotherapy reduces neck pain and dizziness and improves postural performance. Neck disorders should be considered when assessing patients complaining of dizziness, but alternative diagnoses are common. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
volume
77
issue
9
pages
874 - 882
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:8822677
  • scopus:0029787547
ISSN
0003-9993
DOI
10.1016/S0003-9993(96)90273-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
fd96d040-b2b1-42bc-a360-b494fd5b9d50 (old id 1110212)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:37:25
date last changed
2022-04-21 18:00:31
@article{fd96d040-b2b1-42bc-a360-b494fd5b9d50,
  abstract     = {{OBJECTIVE: To assess postural performance in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin in whom extracervical causes had been excluded, and to assess the effects of physiotherapy on postural performance and subjective complaints of neck pain and dizziness. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled trial. SETTING: Primary care centers and a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS AND SUBJECTS: Of 65 referrals, 43 patients were excluded because extracervical etiology was suspected. Of the remaining 22 patients, 17 completed the study (15 women, 2 men, x age 37 yr, range 26-49). The controls were 17 healthy subjects (15 women, 2 men, x age 36 yr, range 25-55). INTERVENTION: Physiotherapy based on analysis of symptoms and findings, and aimed to reduce cervical discomfort. Patients were randomized either to receive immediate physiotherapy (n = 9), or to wait 2 months, undergo repeat measurements, and then receive physiotherapy (n = 8). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Posturography, measuring velocity and variance of vibration-induced body sway and variance of galvanically induced body sway. Subjective intensity of neck pain (Visual Analog Scale ratings, 0-100), intensity and frequency of dizziness (subjective score 0-4). RESULTS: The patients manifested significantly poorer postural performance than did healthy subjects (.05 &gt; p &gt; .0001). Physiotherapy significantly reduced neck pain and intensity and the frequency of dizziness (p &lt; .01), and significantly improved postural performance (.05 &gt; p &gt; .0007). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin are characterized by impaired postural performance. Physiotherapy reduces neck pain and dizziness and improves postural performance. Neck disorders should be considered when assessing patients complaining of dizziness, but alternative diagnoses are common.}},
  author       = {{Karlberg, Mikael and Magnusson, Måns and Malmström, Eva-Maj and Melander, Agneta and Moritz, Ulrich}},
  issn         = {{0003-9993}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{874--882}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation}},
  title        = {{Postural and symptomatic improvement after physiotherapy in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0003-9993(96)90273-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0003-9993(96)90273-7}},
  volume       = {{77}},
  year         = {{1996}},
}