AVORA Health
  • About
  • Services
  • Conditions
  • Tools & Technology
  • Locations
  • Contact
  • Pay My Bill
  • About
  • Services
  • Conditions
  • Tools & Technology
  • Locations
  • Contact
  • Pay My Bill
Picture

​Welcome to
the AVORA Blog


Kim Fox, DPT
​Doctor of Physical Therapy
Specialized Vestibular Provider
​Founder & Clinical Director
Picture

APTA Combined Sections Meeting (CMS)

2/13/2020

 
Picture
Dr. Kim Fox, DPT and Dr. Courtney Hall, PT, PhD behind their research presentation poster.

Picture
Dr. Courtney Hall, PT, PhD presented their research findings at the APTA CMS on February 13, 2020 in Denver, Colorado.

Presentation 1326
​

Abstract
The use of sensorimotor, multi-axis, rotational (SMART) training to treat Mal de Debarquement Syndrome

Purpose/Hypothesis: Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a rare condition in which those afflicted perceive a chronic rocking or swaying sensation, often relieved when in motion and symptomatic when still. Etiology is uncertain; therefore, treatment options are limited. While there is reported success with medication, optokinetic stimulation or transcutaneous magnetic stimulation, there is no single treatment that works for all patients. This retrospective chart review investigated rehabilitation outcomes following sensorimotor, multi-axis, rotational (SMART) training to address MdDS symptoms.

Number of Subjects: Forty-nine

Materials and Methods: Forty-nine patients participated in 10-20 sessions of SMART training, with integrated use of a visual targeting system and physical therapy. Between sessions, patients were instructed to perform mindfulness breathing, relaxation and grounding techniques. Pre- and post-training Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), 4-item Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), and computerized posturography including Sensory Organization Test (SOT) were assessed. Subjective change following rehabilitation was tracked at discharge, 5 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year post-training.

Results: Mean age (SD) of patients was 52.9 (12.6) years with the majority (n=47) being female. Mean time from onset of symptoms (SD) was 50.8 (87.8) months suggesting chronic symptoms. At discharge, 42 of 49 patients reported improvements, with nearly half (n=24, 48.9%) of all patients reporting marked or moderate improvement in symptoms; whereas, 14 (28.6%) reported minimal improvement in symptoms. Based on paired t-tests, all outcome measures – DHI, MdDS severity Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Motion VAS, 4-item DGI, and SOT - improved significantly (p < 0.001) from initial evaluation to discharge. Several personal factors were associated with rehabilitation outcomes based on bivariate correlations. With some variation, patients sustaining improvements at 1 week post-discharge, generally continued to sustain at 5 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.

Conclusions: SMART training plus physical therapy resulted in improved performance outcomes and in significant reduction or resolution in MdDS symptoms. This study provides early evidence that this method of training has promising potential to aid in the management or recovery of MdDS.

Clinical Relevance: MdDS is disorder with no specific cure. Treatment is limited. SMART training may serve as an effective outcome to reduce or resolve symptoms associated with MdDS.

See  Research Gate Kim Fox and Courtney Hall publication of research for more details
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333669306_The_use_of_sensorimotor_multi-axis_rotational_SMART_training_to_treat_Mal_de_Debarquement_Syndrome_MdDS

    Author

    Dr. Kim Fox, DPT is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine at Baltimore and the University of Montana School of Physical Therapy.

    She has opened 4 successful physical therapy clinics since 2009 and is the founder and Clinical Director of AVORA.

    Kim spends most of her time at the AVORA Health Center, a multi-discipline balance & vestibular center specializing in common and uncommon vestibular conditions. The center has recently received international attention for it's good preliminary results in using a GyroStim to treat patients suffering from MdDS.

    Dr. Fox also travels nationally while teaching for Education Resources, a well respected professional seminar company, where she teaches other health care professionals about balance & vestibular disorders.

    Kim is on the editorial review board for the Vestibular Disorders Association (VEDA) and a has recently begun sharing her professional knowledge and experience through social media. Welcome to her blog.

    Archives

    July 2022
    September 2021
    September 2020
    July 2020
    February 2020
    July 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Home     Employment     Contact     
For Physicians     For Patients
Classes     Our Blog     Pay My Bill

​AVORA, LLC is a privately owned and operated healthcare company where the patient comes first. Copyright 2010-2022.