Preventing falls in the elderly with vestibular rehabilitation: an updated literature review

Abstract

Introduction. The vestibular system is responsible for transmitting gravity, as well as movement, posture and stability; The damage to it can lead to various complications, one of the most harmful for the elderly are falls or traumatic accidents, which are detrimental to physical and mental well-being. be of this population Physical health. Vestibular rehabilitation offers unlimited benefits for restoring function affected by these problems and includes a variety of techniques to modify and restore the function of the vestibular system. Objective.  The general objective of this study is to determine how physiotherapeutic intervention in the rehabilitation of the vestibular system contributes to the prevention of falls through a literature review.  Methodology.  This study is a review of the literature that reveals the contribution of vestibular rehabilitation in the prevention of falls in older adults; This research work highlights the importance of the use of this therapy in affected populations. Information was collected from various databases such as: PubMed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, SciELO and ScienceDirect; from where 103 articles were obtained from which 35 articles published worldwide were selected for this research, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale was applied to evaluate the methodological validation of the articles that were selected. Results. Research shows that physiotherapeutic intervention with Vestibular Rehabilitation methods helps prevent or prevent the elderly from suffering a fall; This technique helps the patient regain confidence and can walk without difficulty, facilitating reintegration into their social circle. Conclusion.  With this review of the literature, it was determined: how physiotherapeutic intervention in vestibular rehabilitation can contribute to the prevention of falls, since motor, ocular and vestibular exercises are included, achieving adaptation through habituation and are beneficial for their activation of receptors, peripherally balanced. Novel strategies were employed to replace diminished vestibular function, thereby restoring static stability by improving the cervical oculomotor reflex. General Area of Study: Health and Wellness. Specific area of study: physiotherapy. Type of study: original article.