Vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation has been studied in 9 papers since 2017: 6 trials in people, 1 review; 2 in the past year. The newest paper, Mar 24, 2026: “Smartphone-Supported Vestibular Rehabilitation in Individuals With Vestibular Dysfunction: Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial Assessing Functional Clinical Outcomes and Anxiety”.
9 papers study it6 findingsUpdated
“Participants showed improvement in visuospatial function, especially in immediate recall and delayed recall tasks.”
None of its findings points the other way.
- 3 independent labs in 4 countries
- Funders: Rosetrees Trust and 2 more
- Human trial6
Studies in people
3 studies gave vestibular rehabilitation to people and measured what changed.
up: Improves dizziness-related disability
no change: Has no effect on anxiety
Randomized trial26 people8 men and 12 womenmean age 52.4, SD 12.6 y6 weeks
Individuals with vestibular dysfunction aged 18 to 75 years
JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies, Mar 24, 2026
up: Improves visuospatial function
Trial52 peopleBoth60-86 yearseight sessions
Older adults; vestibular dysfunction
AAIC 2025 abstract, Dec 24, 2025
up: Improves gaitp < 0.05
up: Improves balance
Randomized trial28 people50.71 to 54.36 yearssix weeks
Midlife adults; posterior canal BPPV
Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation, Jun 11, 2021
What did studies of Vestibular rehabilitation find?
5Studies of Vestibular rehabilitation measured 5 outcomes; the most studied are dizziness-related disability (1 study), anxiety (1) and visuospatial function (1).
Dizziness-related disability
upin humans1
1 study
Dizziness-related disability
upin humans1
Vestibular rehabilitation improves dizziness-related disability in humans.
“Both groups (AF and CF) show statistically significant differences between T0-T2 in the DHI total (AF: Z=−2.80, P=.006; CF: Z=−2.67, P=.009).”
Human trialacross both intervention sequences (AF and CF)6 weeksn = 20
JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies
Vestibular rehabilitation improves dizziness-related disability in humans (median change: app first=34, IQR 6-35 points, P=.006; conventional first=18, IQR 10-19 points, P=.009).
“Significant improvements in DHI were observed between T0 and T2 in both groups”
Human trial6 weeksn = 20
JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies
Anxiety
no changein humans1
1 study
Anxiety
no changein humans1
Vestibular rehabilitation has no effect on anxiety in humans.
“No statistically significant change was found between the 3 measurement sessions in the STAI state (χ22=0.80, P=.67) or in the STAI trait (χ22=1.71, P=.42) in the AF+CF together, and in each group separately.”
Human trialin AF+CF together and in each group separately6 weeksn = 20
JMIR rehabilitation and assistive technologies
Visuospatial function
upin humans1
1 study
Visuospatial function
upin humans1
Vestibular rehabilitation improves visuospatial function in humans.
“Participants showed improvement in visuospatial function, especially in immediate recall and delayed recall tasks.”
Human trialvestibular dysfunctioneight sessionsn = 52
Improvement of visuospatial function in elderly people undergoing vestibular rehabilitation
AAIC 2025 abstract
Balance
upin humans1
1 study
Balance
upin humans1
Vestibular rehabilitation improves balance in humans.
“Six weeks of customized VR performed in addition to the standard CRM was more effective than the standard CRM alone in improving balance and gait in adults with posterior canal BPPV.”
Human trialposterior canal BPPVsix weeksn = 28
Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation
Gait
upin humans1
1 study
Gait
upin humans1
Vestibular rehabilitation improves gait in humans (p < 0.05).
“Six weeks of customized VR performed in addition to the standard CRM was more effective than the standard CRM alone in improving balance and gait in adults with posterior canal BPPV.”
Human trialposterior canal BPPVsix weeksn = 28
Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation
Funding
6 grants since 2018National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersUS$1.9mJapan Society for the Promotion of ScienceJP¥27.6m
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceMejiro UniversityJP¥4.6m2026–2030
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceGumma Paz CollegeJP¥18.5m2026–2031
Verification of percutaneous stimulation for the new vestibular rehabilitation.
Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceGifu University of Medical ScienceJP¥4.6m2026–2029
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersUniversity of MontanaUS$194.7k2022–2025
Individualized Vestibular Rehabilitation for Elderly with Self-Management and Gaming Elements
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersCfd Research CorporationUS$793.6k2018–2023
Individualized Vestibular Rehabilitation for Elderly with Self-Management and Gaming Elements
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication DisordersCfd Research CorporationUS$225k2018–2019