Effectiveness of Integrated Education to Reduce Postoperative Nausea, Vomiting, and Dizziness after Abdominal Surgery under General Anesthesia.

This study presents an anticipatory integrated education program for nausea, vomiting, and dizziness prevention (anti-NVD education program) for patients undergoing abdominal surgery under general anesthesia. The anti-NVD education program for nephrectomy patients consisted of the following: the causes of postoperative nausea, vomiting, and dizziness; effective deep breathing and how to use an inspirometer; postoperative nausea and vomiting; effective methods of patient-controlled analgesia; and the stepwise standing up method to prevent dizziness. A study was conducted among 79 adults (experimental group: n = 40, control group: n = 39). The degree of nausea and dizziness was measured using a numerical rating scale (NRS), and vomiting and the frequency of antiemetic use were measured in terms of the number of patients. The experimental group, which received the anti-NVD education, showed remarkably lower levels of nausea (p = 0.013) and dizziness (p < 0.001) than the control group. The frequency of antiemetic use 48 hours after surgery was significantly lower in the experimental group (p = 0.03). This study proved the efficacy of the anti-NVD education program for reducing postoperative nausea and dizziness. This program can be used as a noninvasive nursing intervention to prevent nausea, vomiting, and dizziness among patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

[investigation on the triggers and the effect of healthy education on recurrence of vestibular migraine].

Objective:The aim of this study is to investigate the predisposing factors and the effect of healthy education on recurrence of vestibular migraine (VM), so as to provide a scientific basis for increasing the knowledge rate and reducing the recurrence rate of VM patients. Method: Questionnaires, memory diary, regular follow-up, etc. were used to understand the possible predisposing factors of VM patients. Self-assessment depression scale (SDS) and self-assessment anxiety scale (SAS) were used to evaluate patients' mental and psychological status, and visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to evaluate the severity of vertigo. Health education was conducted for VM patients through face-to-face consultation, material distribution, modern multimedia and other methods. The knowledge rate, anxiety and fear psychological state, recurrence frequency of vertigo, duration and severity of vertigo were compared before and after the healthy education. Result:Of 103 cases of the object of study, 100 patients (97.1%) with different degree of sleep disorders, 96 cases (93.2%) had a clear family history with vertigo or dizziness headache, 90 cases (87.4%) had history of motion sickness, 90 cases (87.4%) had confined space history of intolerance, 82 cases (79.6%), recurrent cause psychological anxiety, fear, 80 cases (77.7%), lack of exercise, 79 cases (76.7%) under pressure from life or work, 53 (51.5%) had food preference, 8 cases (7.8%) think much rain attacks more frequent when humid climate,seven (6.8%) reported more episodes during the spring or spring/summer exchanges.After health education, patients were followed up for 6 months to 2 years with a median of 15 months, and their knowledge rate of VM was increased from 12.6% (13 cases) to 98% (101 cases).The psychological ratio of anxiety and fear decreased from 79.6% (82 cases) to 7.8% (8 cases).The SAS score decreased from 47.9±4.4 to 45.5±4.2, and the SDS score decreased from 39.7±3.6 to 38.2±3.8.The unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits （lack of exercise, stress, and eating preferences at least 1 item）decreased from 89.4% (92 cases) to 32.1% (33 cases).The recurrence rate of 83.5% (86 cases) of the patients was reduced by 1 time or more, and the rate of no recurrence increased from 1% (1 case) to 15.5% (16 cases) within half a year.The duration of the attack was reduced by 20% or more in 48.5%(50 cases),The mean duration of the attack declined from (17.4±1.4) hours before healthy education to (10.5±0.9) hours after healthy education.The VAS score of 86.4%(89 cases) with recurrence severity decreased by 2 points or more. The average VAS score before and after education was (6.6±0.1) points and (4.5±0.1) points respectively.The above differences were statistically significant (P<0.01) compared with those before and after education.Conclusion: Sleep disorder, airtight space intolerance, excessive stress, lack of exercise, and dietary preference may be related factors to trigger VM attacks. Healthy education can significantly improve the awareness of VMs, and promote patients to change their lifestyle and eating habits. It can significantly improve patients' anxiety and fear psychological state, reduce the frequency of attack, shorten the duration of attack, and reduce the severity of selfassessment, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Efectividad de cinco sesiones de rehabilitación vestibular en mujeres mayores de 60 años con hipofunción vestibular / Effectiveness of five vestibular rehabilitation sessions in women over 60 years of age with vestibular hypofunction

RESUMEN Introducción: Los síntomas vestibulares son motivo frecuente de consulta en la atención médica, el adulto mayor y en especial el género femenino está expuesto a riesgo de caída por esta causa. Es común que el tratamiento de este grupo de pacientes sea los supresores vestibulares, y la terapia de rehabilitación vestibular (RV) se indique excepcionalmente, olvidando en ocasiones que los elementos anatomofuncionales involucrados en las disfunciones vestibulares son la integración del aparato visual, vestibular, y somatosensorial, pilares en los que se fundamenta la RV. Objetivo: El objetivo de este estudio es determinar si cinco sesiones RV son suficientes para disminuir la discapacidad funcional y el riesgo de caída en un grupo de pacientes con patología vestibular. Material y método: Estudio prospectivo con 14 pacientes de género femenino mayores de 61 años con diagnóstico de patología vestibular periférica. Se realizó evaluación de (dizziness handicap inventory) DHI, (timed up and go) TUG y (video head impulse test) vHIT previo y posterior a la intervención de cinco sesiones de RV. Resultados: Las tres variables estudiadas (DHI, TUG y vHIT) demostraron mejorías estadísticamente significativas en el grupo de pacientes. Conclusión: Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio permiten sugerir que la terapia de RV en pacientes adultos mayores, con patología vestibular periférica y sin medicación de supresores vestibulares, es una modalidad terapéutica adecuada y eficiente.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Vestibular symptoms are frequent reason for consultation in medical care, the elderly and especially the female gender is exposed to fall risk from this cause. It is common for the treatment of this group of patients to be vestibular suppressors while vestibular rehabilitation therapy is indicated exceptionally, sometimes forgetting that the anatomic and functional elements involved in vestibular dysfunctions are the integration of the visual, vestibular, and somatosensory, pillars in those that are based on vestibular rehabilitation (VR). Aim: The objective of this study is to determine if five VR sessions are sufficient to provide concrete quantitative data on the decrease of disability and risk of falling in a group of patients with vestibular pathology. Material and method: This prospective study included 14 female patients over 61 years of age with diagnoses of peripheral vestibular pathology. Dizziness handicap inventory (DHI), timed up and go (TUG) and video head impulse test (vHIT) were performed and after the intervention of five sessions of vestibular rehabilitation. Results: The three variables studied (DHI, TUG and vHIT) showed statistically significant improvements in the group of patients. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study allow us to suggest that VR therapy in elderly patients with peripheral vestibular pathology and without vestibular suppressor medication is an adequate, efficient and promising therapeutic modality.

Stereotactic radiotherapy of vestibular schwannoma : Hearing preservation, vestibular function, and local control following primary and salvage radiotherapy.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this publication is to present long-term data on functional outcomes and tumor control in a cohort of 107 patients treated with stereotactic radiotherapy (RT) for vestibular schwannoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Included were 107 patients with vestibular schwannoma (primary or recurrent following resection) treated with stereotactic RT (either fractioned or single-dose radiosurgery) between October 2002 and December 2013. Local control and functional outcomes were determined. Analysis of hearing preservation was limited to a subgroup of patients with complete audiometric data collected before treatment and during follow-up. Vestibular function test (FVT) results could be analyzed in a subset of patients and were compared to patient-reported dizziness. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 46.3 months, actuarial local control for the whole cohort was 100% after 2, 97.6% after 5, and 94.1% after 10 years. In patients with primary RT, serviceable hearing was preserved in 72%. Predictors for preservation of serviceable hearing in multivariate analysis were time of follow-up (odds ratio, OR = 0.93 per month; p = 0.021) and pre-RT tumor size (Koos stage I-IIa vs. IIb-IV; OR = 0.15; p = 0.031). Worsening of FVT results was recorded in 17.6% (N = 3). Profound discrepancy of patient-reported dizziness and FVT results was observed after RT. In patients with primary RT, worsening of facial nerve function occurred in 1.7% (N = 1). CONCLUSION: Stereotactic RT of vestibular schwannoma provides good functional outcomes and high control rates. Dependence of hearing preservation on time of follow-up and initial tumor stage has to be considered.

Childhood otitis media is associated with dizziness in adulthood: the HUNT cohort study.

The objective of the study was to examine the association between otitis media in childhood and dizziness in adulthood. Longitudinal, population-based cohort study of 21,962 adults (aged 20-59 years, mean 40) who completed a health questionnaire in the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study was conducted. At 7, 10 and 13 years of age, the same individuals underwent screening audiometry in a longitudinal school hearing investigation. Children found with hearing loss underwent an ear, nose and throat specialist examination. Adults diagnosed with childhood chronic suppurative otitis media (n = 102) and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media (n = 590) were significantly more likely to have increased risk of reported dizziness when compared to adults with normal hearing as children at the school investigation and also a negative history of recurrent otitis media (n = 21,270), p < 0.05. After adjusting for adult age, sex and socio-economic status, the odds ratios were 2.1 [95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.4-3.3] and 1.3 (95 % CI: 1.0-1.5), respectively. This longitudinal cohort study suggests that childhood chronic suppurative otitis media and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media are associated with increased risk of dizziness in adulthood. This might reflect a permanent effect of inflammatory mediators or toxins on the vestibular system. The new finding stresses the importance of treatment and prevention of these otitis media conditions.

Clinical evaluation of inner ear changes as result of chronic otitis media and its surgery.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate whether chronic otitis media (COM) may cause inner ear damages or middle ear surgery may improve this damage with regard to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and tinnitus and dizziness-related disability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational prospective study was performed on a series of 65 patients (41 males, 24 females; mean age 26.4±12.6; range 11 to 62 years) who were diagnosed with COM and were scheduled for surgical intervention at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the Haydarpasa Numune Education and Research Hospital. Patients were divided into two subgroups as tympanoplasty and mastoidectomy group according to the surgical procedure. Standard patient work-up included otomicroscopy, pure tone audiometry and completion of the Turkish translation of Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) before surgery and eight weeks after surgery. RESULTS: We found higher bone conduction thresholds in the group of patients with mastoidectomy preoperatively. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean preoperative and postoperative THI and DHI scores between the groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that a successful surgery results in improved tinnitus and vertigo symptoms in patients with COM.

Electro-acupuncture decreases postoperative pain and improves recovery in patients undergoing a supratentorial craniotomy.

We performed this study to examine the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on postoperative pain, postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and recovery in patients after a supratentorial tumor resection. Eighty-eight patients requiring a supratentorial tumor resection were anesthetized with sevoflurane and randomly allocated to a no treatment group (Group C) or an EA group (Group A). After anesthesia induction, the patients in Group A received EA at LI4 and SJ5, at BL63 and LR3 and at ST36 and GB40 on the same side as the craniotomy. The stimulation was continued until the end of the operation. Patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) was used for the postoperative analgesia. The postoperative pain scores, PONV, the degree of dizziness and appetite were recorded. In the first 6 hours after the operation, the mean total bolus, the effective times of PCIA bolus administrations and the VAS scores were much lower in the EA group (p < 0.05). In the EA group, the incidence of PONV and degree of dizziness and feeling of fullness in the head within the first 24 hours after the operation was much lower than in the control group (p < 0.05). In the EA group, more patients had a better appetite than did the patients in group C (51.2% vs. 27.5%) (p < 0.05). The use of EA in neurosurgery patients improves the quality of postoperative analgesia, promotes appetite recovery and decreases some uncomfortable sensations, such as dizziness and feeling of fullness in the head.

[Analysis of a blog for gastrointestinal disease in the view point of the big data: a single institutional study].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: With the enormous increase in the amount of data, the concept of big data has emerged and this allows us to gain new insights and appreciate its value. However, analysis related to gastrointestinal diseases in the viewpoint of the big data has not been performed yet in Korea. This study analyzed the data of the blog's visitors as a set of big data to investigate questions they did not mention in the clinical situation. METHODS: We analyzed the blog of a professor whose subspecialty is gastroenterology at Gangnam Severance Hospital. We assessed the changes in the number of visitors, access path of visitors, and the queries from January 2011 to December 2013. RESULTS: A total of 50,084 visitors gained accessed to the blog. An average of 1,535.3 people visited the blog per month and 49.5 people per day. The number of visitors and the cumulative number of registered posts showed a positive correlation. The most utilized access path of visitors to the website was blog.iseverance.com (42.2%), followed by Google (32.8%) and Daum (6.6%). The most searched term by the visitors in the blog was intestinal metaplasia (16.6%), followed by dizziness (8.3%) and gastric submucosal tumor (7.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Personal blog can function as a communication route for patients with digestive diseases. The most frequently searched word necessitating explanation and education was 'intestinal metaplasia'. Identifying and analyzing even unstructured data as a set of big data is expected to provide meaningful information.

Safety analysis of endoscopist-directed propofol sedation: a prospective, national multicenter study of 24 441 patients in German outpatient practices.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Since 2008, there exists a German S3-guideline allowing non-anesthesiological administration of propofol for gastrointestinal endoscopy. In this prospective, national, multicenter study, we evaluated the safety of endoscopist-administered propofol sedation (EDP) in German outpatient practices of Gastroenterology. METHODS: In this multicenter survey of 53 ambulatory practices of Gastroenterology, we prospectively evaluated 24 441 patients that had received EDP. We recorded adverse events during the endoscopic procedure and additionally retrieved questionnaires investigating subjective parameters 24 h after the endoscopic procedure. RESULTS: In 24 441 patients 13 793 colonoscopies, 6467 esophagogastroduodenoscopies, and 4181 double examinations were performed. In this study, 52.1% of the patients received propofol mono-sedation, and 47.9% received a combination of midazolam and propofol. Major adverse events occurred in four patients (0.016%) enrolled to this study (three mask ventilations and one laryngospasm). Minor adverse events were observed in 112 patients (0.46%) with hypoxemia being the most common minor event. All patients with adverse events recovered without persistent impairment. Minor adverse events occurred more frequently in patients sedated with propofol mono compared to propofol and midazolam (P < 0.0001) and correlated with increasing propofol dosages (P < 0.001; Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.044). Twenty-four hours after the endoscopy, patients sedated with propofol plus midazolam stated a significantly reduced sensation of pain (P < 0.01) and improved symptoms of dizziness, nausea and vomiting (P < 0.001) compared to patients having received propofol mono-sedation. CONCLUSION: Four years after the implementation of a German S3-Guideline for endoscopic sedation, we demonstrated that EDP is a safe procedure.

[Renal denervation in a patient with dizziness, attacks of sweating, weight loss and resistant hypertension]. / Renale Denervierung bei einem Patienten mit Schwindel, Schweißausbrüchen, Gewichtsabnahme und therapierefraktärer Hypertonie.

HISTORY: A 61-year-old man presented with malaise, obstipation, sweeting attacks, and weight loos of 13 kg within 3 months. Blood pressure was increased to 220/130 mmHg. Resistant hypertension was diagnosed because blood pressure was uncontrolled in spite of concurrent use of five antihypertensive agents of different classes including a diuretic. Thus, catheter-based radiofrequency ablation of the renal sympathetic nerves was performed. However, the patient's blood pressure did not decrease after the intervention. INVESTIGATIONS: Computed tomography showed a tumour of abour 7 cm diameter in the left adrenal gland. Serum catecholamines were elevated. Therefore pheochromocytoma was diagnosed. TREATMENT AND COURSE: After alpha-adrenergic blockade adrenalectomy was performed. Thereafter blood pressure was normal without antihypertensive therapy. CONCLUSION: Identification and treatment of causes of secondary hypertension is an essential component in the management of resistant hypertension. Renal denervation should remain an ultimate treatment option only after exclusion of secondary hypertension.

Vestibular compensation after vestibular schwannoma surgery: normalization of the subjective visual vertical and disability.

CONCLUSIONS: The degree of caloric weakness before surgery influences faster or slower recovery of patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a good index to show the recovery of patients as it relates directly to an improvement or not of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the process of recovery of patients as measured by the SVV and the DHI after surgical removal of vestibular schwannoma. METHODS: We studied 24 consecutive patients of the University Hospital of Salamanca who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery. We assessed age, tumour size, degree of canalicular weakness and preoperative SVV, and their relationship with DHI and SVV at discharge and also at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Patients with lesser degrees of caloric weakness took longer to normalize SVV than those with a higher caloric weakness before surgery (p < 0.05). There was a significant correlation between DHI and improvements in SVV with time. The differences disappeared in 6 months where all patients, with greater or lesser degree of caloric weakness, had the same results.

Blood donor haemovigilance in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: Blood availability is an issue of concern in countries of sub-Saharan Africa where both the demand and discard rates of blood are high. Although some degree of attention is paid when transfusion reactions occur in recipients, no information is available on donor reactions in this setting. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out in order to obtain some data on adverse reactions (ARs) to blood donations. It would make it possible to monitor and improve the safety of the donation procedure, which constitutes a strategy towards increasing donor supply by encouraging first-time donors to return in the absence of any negative outcomes of donation. METHODS: A hospital blood bank-based descriptive and prospective study was carried out to document ARs among 1034 blood donors from September 2010 to January 2011. A pre-structured data collection tool was used to record the signs and symptoms observed. RESULTS: The ARs occurred at a rate of 2.8%. The most frequent reaction was hypotension which constituted 26.62% of all ARs. Haematomas represented 18.42% while weakness and dizziness were each noted in 13.16% of donors. There was no severe vasovagal reaction. Associated factors to vasovagal reactions were first-time donor status (P = 0.004), female sex (P = 0.01) and low body weight (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that blood donation is a relatively safe procedure in our context. The frequency is higher than studies from developed countries. The association of AR with first-time blood donation needs to be verified in a larger study. However, it could suggest another benefit of regular blood donation.

Vestibular rehabilitation of older adults with dizziness.

The role of rehabilitation for treatment of older adults with dizziness and balance disorders is reviewed. Theories related to functional recovery from peripheral and central vestibular disorders are presented. Suggestions on which older adults might benefit from vestibular rehabilitation therapy are presented. Promising innovative rehabilitation strategies and technologies that might enhance recovery of the older adult with balance dysfunction are discussed.

Middle-ear surgery under sedation: comparison of midazolam alone or midazolam with remifentanil.

OBJECTIVE: Performance of middle-ear surgery under local anaesthesia has several advantages, but many patients complain of pain, anxiety and adverse events (e.g. dizziness and nausea). To minimise such problems, we compared sedation with midazolam alone versus midazolam with remifentanil. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We initially observed 19 patients undergoing middle-ear surgery under local anaesthesia, as controls. We then sedated a further 40 patients undergoing such surgery, with either midazolam or midazolam plus remifentanil. RESULTS: The sedated patients had significantly lower incidences of local anaesthesia injection pain (p < 0.001), intra-operative pain (p < 0.001), intra-operative anxiety (p < 0.001) and adverse events, compared with the control group. Patients sedated with midazolam plus remifentanil reported less intra-operative anxiety (p = 0.010) and greater post-operative satisfaction with sedation (p = 0.007), compared with those sedated with midazolam only. CONCLUSION: Patients undergoing middle-ear surgery under local anaesthesia alone frequently report pain, anxiety and adverse events. However, the majority of our patients who were sedated with midazolam satisfactorily overcame pain, anxiety and adverse events. Results were better still when midazolam was accompanied by remifentanil.

[Clinical efficiency of Vasonat in neurometabolic therapy of patients with ischemic stroke at early rehabilitation period].

Research of efficiency and safety of Vasonat has been carried out. 31 patients aged 46-75 years who had had hemispheric athero- thrombotic or hemodynamic schemic stroke with moderate severity and being treated in 2-5-month of early rehabilitation period have been observed. The control group of patients received placebo. Results of the study, 4 weeks treatment using Vasonat in the dosage of 500 mg/day have shown positive effect on common signs of the disease by decreasing headache intensity, dizziness, a nausea, and on focal neurological symptoms by decreasing hemiparesis degree; psychoemotional and mnestic activity (main memory and attention) improved as well. It was more distinct in patients with localization of the stroke in the right hemisphere of the brain. It was also noted more rapid improvement of motion function and quality of life of patients.

[Treatment with beta-erythropoietin in lung cancer--effectiveness and quality of life improvement in clinical practice]. / Eritropoetin-béta-kezelés tüdôrákban--hatékonyság és életminôség-javulás a klinikai gyakorlatban.

Anemia is common among patients with malignant tumors, due to the disease and chemotherapy. Anemia decreases patient's quality of life, and worsens the dose-intensity of chemotherapy. The aim of this retrospective data-analysis was to evaluate quality of life and hemoglobin levels in 19 consecutive lung cancer patients receiving beta-erythropoietin, due to chemotherapy induced anemia. A self developed, patient source data based quality of life questionnaire was used. The mean pre-erythropoietin hemoglobin concentration of the patients was 96.31±6.72 g/L (mean±SD), the post-treatment hemoglobin concentration 111.63±14.05 g/L (p<0.05). During the chemotherapy of the 19 patients with lung cancer, transfusion was given only four times. The mean quality of life total score of the patients increased significantly during erythropoietin treatment that was resulted by the improvements of scores determining dizziness, tachycardia, and fatigue. Main limitations of this real life data analysis are low patient number and the lack of validation in the used questionnaire. In summary, according to our experiences, the use of beta-erythropoietin in patients with lung cancer results improved quality of life and a low rate of transfusions.

Home orthostatic training in vasovagal syncope modifies autonomic tone: results of a randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study.

AIMS: To detect possible autonomic changes due to home orthostatic training (HOT) and to assess the feasibility of a larger, placebo-controlled study of HOT in vasovagal syncope (VVS). METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-two consecutive patients, aged 18-85, diagnosed with VVS following a positive head-up tilt-table test were randomized to 40 min of HOT (n = 12) or 10 min of sham training (n = 10) daily for 6 months. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured at weeks 0, 1, 4, and 24. Symptom response was assessed by event diaries. Home orthostatic training resulted in increases in up and down slope BRS at week 4 (e(log difference) = 1.59, 95% CI = 0.84-3.03 and 1.79, 95% CI = 1.00-3.22) and week 24 (e(log difference) = 1.75, 95% CI = 1.01-3.06 and 1.53, 95% CI = 0.66-2.68) compared with placebo. Relative improvements in low- and high-frequency HRV were also observed in the HOT group compared with placebo at week 4 (e(log difference) = 3.22, 95% CI = 1.06-9.86 and 3.19, 95% CI = 1.03-10.59) and week 24 (e(log difference) = 2.11, 95% CI = 0.72-6.17 and 2.13, 95% CI = 0.52-8.79). Fifty percentage of HOT subjects and 20% of control subjects were syncope-free at 6 months. CONCLUSION: This was the first placebo-controlled study in orthostatic training which has demonstrated that such a study is indeed feasible. An enhancement in overall autonomic tone is observed with HOT in tandem with a non-significant trend in symptom improvement. A larger, adequately powered, randomized controlled trial of tilt-training is now needed.

Chiropractic care for older adults: effects on balance, dizziness, and chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: This study is part of an avenue of research exploring the effect of chiropractic care on balance in older adults. The purpose of this study was to (1) assess the use of the 7-item version of the Berg Balance Scale, (2) explore possible effects of an 8-week course of chiropractic care on balance as measured by the 7-item Short-Form Berg Balance Scale (SF-BBS) in adults 65 years or older with impaired balance, and (3) collect preliminary information on the possible relationships of dizziness and/or chronic pain to poor balance. METHODS: This was a single-group, pretest/posttest design intervention study. Patients 65 years and older who could stand on one leg for less than 5 seconds were eligible. They received pragmatic chiropractic care for 16 visits for an 8-week period. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, visit 8 and visit 16 in terms of balance SF-BBS, dizziness (Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI]), chronic pain (Pain Disability Index), and depression (Geriatric Depression Scale). RESULTS: Sixteen patients were enrolled; 14 completed the study. There was one mild and transient adverse effect, muscle soreness, which self-resolved. One patient was depressed, and his Geriatric Depression Scale score improved significantly during the study. Of the 6 patients with significant dizziness at baseline, 3 had scores of 0 (no dizziness) on the DHI at visit 16. Patients with dizziness tended to have greater chronic pain and show greater reductions in that pain than nondizzy patients. No clinically important effects on balance as measured by the SF-BBS were apparent for the group as a whole, although 3 individual patients improved by 4 to 6 points. CONCLUSION: The Short-Form Berg Balance Scale (SF-BBS) did not show a great deal of clinical responsiveness in this study population. The outcome measures used for chronic pain (Pain Disability Index) and dizziness (DHI) appear to be appropriate for assessing patients in future larger studies for longer periods.