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Vestibular rehabilitation may improve balance, walking, and dizziness in multiple sclerosis

Journal of neurology (PubMed)Aug 27, 2026

AI-summarized from the linked source. Educational brief, not medical advice.

Brief summary

A meta-analysis of randomized trials found vestibular rehabilitation may improve balance, walking speed and endurance, dizziness, fatigue, and depression in people with multiple sclerosis, although evidence certainty was generally low or very low.

What NurseJet pulled from the source

Thirteen randomized trials included 454 participants. Pooled results favored vestibular rehabilitation for several balance, walking, dizziness, fatigue, and depression measures, while transfer ability, balance self-efficacy, and quality of life did not differ significantly. The authors call for larger trials because certainty was low or very low.

Why this matters for nurses

Dizziness and postural instability increase fall risk and can limit daily activity for people with multiple sclerosis. Nurses can identify vestibular symptoms, protect mobility, and support referral and adherence without presenting rehabilitation as a proven solution for every outcome.

Bedside takeaway

Consider vestibular symptoms in fall and mobility assessments; rehabilitation may help several outcomes, but the evidence remains low certainty.

How This Applies in Practice

Use this when: Assessing mobility or discharge needs for a person with multiple sclerosis who reports dizziness, imbalance, or reduced walking tolerance.

On your shift

  • Assess symptom triggers, gait and transfer safety, recent falls, fatigue, and the assistive device or help needed for mobility.
  • Communicate vestibular and mobility findings to the rehabilitation team and follow the ordered activity and fall-prevention plan.
  • Use teach-back to confirm the patient understands the prescribed exercises, pacing, and safety precautions before discharge.
Keep in mind: The evidence does not identify one protocol for all patients. Follow the individualized rehabilitation plan, facility policy, and provider orders.

Key takeaways

  • The meta-analysis included 13 randomized trials with 454 people with multiple sclerosis.
  • Vestibular rehabilitation may improve balance, walking speed, walking endurance, and dizziness compared with control interventions.
  • Pooled estimates also favored rehabilitation for fatigue and depression measures.
  • Transfer ability, balance self-efficacy, and quality of life did not show significant between-group differences.

Practice implications

  • Assess dizziness, gait, transfer safety, fatigue, and recent falls; use the ordered mobility plan and assistive devices; and communicate persistent vestibular symptoms for rehabilitation evaluation. Reinforce the prescribed home program only after confirming technique and safety precautions.

Limitations & cautions

  • The pooled evidence came from 13 small trials, comparator interventions varied, and certainty was generally low or very low. The abstract does not establish a single optimal rehabilitation protocol or sustained benefit after treatment ends.
  • AI-summarized from the linked source. Review the original article before applying to practice.

Citations

Exact source links

Public citations are filtered to exact credible source pages. Homepage-only or invalid links stay in admin review and are not shown here.

Journal of neurology (PubMed)

Journal of neurology (PubMed). Effectiveness of vestibular rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Open original source

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42658257/

Professional education only

This summary does not replace clinical judgment, facility policy, provider orders, or official guidelines. Verify practice changes against the original source and local protocol.

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