A Sensory Adaptation Program for Individuals With Mal de Débarquement Syndrome: A Case Series.
Chelsea R Van Zytveld, Elliot Gann, Sarah Gallagher and 2 others
PMID 42360786WHAT IT FOUND
All 10 adults with MdDS reported less oscillatory motion after a 3-week program that included education, sensory adaptation, functional mobility, and home exercise; 60% kept that reduction at 3 months.
No control group means this cannot show the program caused the change.
Key findings
01The average reduction in perceived severity of oscillatory motion on the VAS was 43.1 ± 24.2 points, and all 10 participants reported symptom reduction on the NRS after intervention, with 60% maintaining it at 3 months.
0260% (6/10) of participants exceeded the minimal clinically important difference on the FGA.
0390% (9/10) of participants exceeded the minimally important change on the PSFS 2.0, and 70% (7/10) sustained it at 3 months.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
This was a case series of 10 participants with no control group, so it cannot show that the program caused the reported changes. The program combined education, sensory adaptation, functional mobility, and a home exercise program, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated. The VAS and NRS have not been evaluated for reliability and validity in people with vestibular disorders. The PSFS 2.0 responsiveness has not been established in people with vestibular disorders, and the 2.67-point minimally important change was suggested for neck pain. The MCTSIB reached a ceiling after treatment, so it could not show how changes in sensory use affected balance. Participants were highly motivated, and some traveled to take part, which may limit how broadly the results apply.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest. The study was supported by the Mal de Débarquement Foundation.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the symptom reductions as proof that the sensory adaptation program works. There was no control group, and participants also received education, sensory adaptation, functional mobility practice, and a home exercise program, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.