Subjective Vestibular Test Findings in Individuals With Motion Sickness

Abstract

Introduction: Motion Sickness (MS) is one among the most common distressing ailment accompanied with both actual and perceived motion. Regardless of its commonality, very little is known about the underlying pathophysiology. Several tests have proved the involvement of vestibular system in motion sickness. However, there is dearth of knowledge on the expected ndings of Subjective Vestibular Tests (SVT) in individuals with MS. Aim: To compare the SVT ndings in individuals with and without MS. Methodology:Recruited participants were divided into two groups. The group Aconsisted of participants experiencing symptoms of motion sickness and group B consisted of normal controls. To full the aim of the study, subjects were introduced to SVT such as Romberg's Test, Fukuda Stepping Test (FST), Gait Test, Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) and Subjective Visual Horizontal (SVH). Results and Discussion:The results of the study depicted a good contribution of tests in identifying the affected vestibular system in individuals with MS. Further, about 55% abnormal test ndings in eyes open position for SVV test and 50% for SVH test were obtained. Similarly, eyes closed position yielded abnormal test ndings of 35% and 20% in FST and Gait test respectively. Finally, upon comparison between the test ndings, FST has been situated superior over other SVTs.The recruited tests are known to detect comparatively weaker labyrinth (not necessarily side of lesion) by the observed deviation from the start point in eyes open and closed position. The test results obtained beyond the normative values inherit the presence of otolithic end organ dysfunction in the vestibular system. Therefore, the individuals with MS nd it difcult to maintain the expected vertical and horizontal tilt.