A new facility for functional-based approach to vestibular hypofunction
Journal
Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Journal Volume
82
Journal Issue
11
Date Issued
2019
Author(s)
Chou C.-L.
Abstract
TO THE EDITOR We read with great interest the article written by Dr. Wei and Dr. Kao, entitled “Establishment of vestibular function multimodality platform”,1 which has been published in the Journal of the Chinese Medical Association. We want to congratulate the authors for this successful invention and for their contributions in the evaluation of vestibular functions. Functional evaluation has an important aspect in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Since physical performances and activities of daily livings (ADLs) are dynamic motions, a clinic-based static physical examination is unable to simulate the real world conditions. Emerging designs based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) had been applied in functional evaluation and treatment, such as gait analysis2 and fall prevention in Parkinson’s disease.3 The ability to allow for quantitative measurement makes IMUs a useful tool in dynamic functional evaluation, which is an extraordinary important in ADLs compared with the static physical examination. Vestibular hypofunction may be an underestimated chronic condition4 with considerable negative impacts on physical performances and health-related quality of life.5 As the prevalence of vestibular hypofunction increases with age, the subsequent higher fall risks can lead to economic burden of health care system especially in an ageing society. An innovation of IMUs-based platform to evaluate vestibular ocular reflex and gaze shifting can potentially be applied efficiently to the rehabilitation prescription of vestibular hypofunction. Further benefits of its integration with other therapeutic strategies could be expected.
Publisher
Wolters Kluwer Health
Type
letter