Association between Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo and Balance: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is characterized by brief episodes of vertigo, nausea and/or positional nystagmus upon head movements, is produced by the inadequate presence of statocone particles coming from the utriculus macula floating in the endolymph of the semi-circular canal or attached to their cupule. BPPV is one of the most common peripheral vestibular disorders leading to balance difficulties and increased fall risks. Most patients complain of a loss of equilibrium and unstable gait during and between the vertigo attacks. Literature was explored on search engines (Google scholar, scihub and PubMed) and databases for articles published from 2014 to 2022. The key search phrase, balance and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo were used to identify potentially relevant articles. The following inclusion criteria were applied for article selection: (1) studies exploring balance in subjects with BPPV. (2) Studies that rated at a score of 7 or higher according to the Pedro scale. Many n=53 relevant articles were identified. After reading the titles and abstracts and assessing eligibility based on the full-text articles, 27 publications were included in our review. Majority studies showed that the outcome (ADL functions, Postural stability, nystagmus, balance, falls, and signs of consciousness) for BPPV reviewed were significantly associated with equilibrium. It was interpreted that balance was significantly affected in patients of BPPV. Also there was still imbalance in long-term even after successful treatment with repositioning maneuvers.