Abstract:
The vestibular system is important for the development of normal movement reactions,
motion tolerance, and motor control for postural alignment, balance, and vision. A vestibular
system that is damaged by disease or injury in childhood can have a major impact on a child’s
development. In addition, the emergence of vestibular lesions may also lead to cognitive
deficits, including attention deficit. Despite the advances in testing and documentation of
vestibular deficits in children, the vestibular problems continue to be an overlooked entity.
Many children do not receive treatment that could significantly improve function and address
the developmental delays caused by vestibular disorders.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has been defined as an effective modality for most
individuals with disorders of the vestibular or central balance system disorders. The basis for
the success of VRT is the use of existing neural mechanisms in the human brain for adaptation,
plasticity, and compensation. The vestibular system cannot be considered as a separate entity
ignoring other balance subsystems. Hence, a modified VRT program, named pediatric balance
therapy with special modifications in exercises, was developed for children with vestibular
disorders, in accordance to the whole balance system.
Machine summary:
Review Paper: Introduction of Pediatric Balance Therapy in Children with Vestibular Dysfunction: Review of Indications, Mechanisms, and Key Exercises CrossMark Younes Lotfi1, Nima Rezazadeh2*, Abdollah Moossavi1, Hojjat Allah Haghgoo3, Sedigheh Farokhi Moghadam3, Ebrahim Pishyareh3, Enaya- tollah Bakhshi4, Reza Rostami5, Vahid Sadeghi6, Yousef Khodabandelou5 1.
Introduction of pediatric balance therapy in children with vestibular dysfunction: Review of indications, mechanisms, and key Exercises.
Hence, a modified VRT program, named pediatric balance therapy with special modifications in exercises, was developed for children with vestibular disorders, in accordance to the whole balance system.
8. Key Exercises Overall balance and gate exercises for children with vestibular dysfunction Trampoline • Ask the child to jump on a trampoline while he/she rotates around himself/herself [33].
CP ball • Ask the child to sit in the center of the ball, opposite arm and leg lifted, hold for 15 seconds, then switch side with both eyes open and closed [33, 36] (Figure 1).
• Place the child prone on CP ball, opposite arm and leg raised, ask him to hold for 15 seconds, and then switch sides [33, 37] (Figure 4).
Postural Stability exercises for children with ves- tibular dysfunction • Ask the child to stand on one leg.
• Ask the child to look at a target on a wall while walk- ing, moving his/her head horizontally for 15 seconds.
• Ask the child to look at different targets with high eye speed with eyes fixed for 30 seconds (this exercise will facilitate gaze stabilization using saccadic eye movements) [38].