Effectiveness of Habituation Exercises Versus Gaze Stability Exercises in the Management of Migraine-Related Dizziness: A Comparative Study
P. O. Beena *
Manjunatha College of Physiotherapy, Chokkanahalli, Bangalore-560064, India and Department of Physiotherapy, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, India.
K. Kotteeswaran
Department of Physiotherapy, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Thandalam, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To compare the effects of habituation exercises versus gaze stability exercises on dizziness severity using the Dizziness Handicap Inventory in patients with migraine-related dizziness.
Study Design: Participants were allocated to groups by simple randomisation in a two-arm parallel-group randomised controlled trial. A comparative study with a pre- and post-test design was conducted.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted over a period of 6 months among subjects selected from physiotherapy and rehabilitation centres across Bangalore between June 2025 and June 2026.
Methodology: Forty subjects of both sexes, aged 20-40 years, with a history of migraine-related dizziness lasting from more than 2 weeks to 6 months were selected. After demographic data were collected, the subjects underwent clinical evaluation using the dynamic visual acuity test, Motion Sensitivity Quotient, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scale. Testing was performed for all 40 subjects over a period of 10 months, after which a post-test was conducted and the results were compared.
Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups at baseline. Following the 6-week intervention, there was an overall improvement in the Dizziness Handicap Inventory scale, Motion Sensitivity Quotient, and dynamic visual acuity test between the pre- and post-test assessments. The results showed a significant between-group difference for the Motion Sensitivity Quotient value [p < 0.0001], whereas the dynamic visual acuity test value [p > 0.290] and Dizziness Handicap Inventory value [p > 0.443] were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The pre- and post-test scores for the dynamic visual acuity test, Motion Sensitivity Quotient, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scale showed significant improvement in the rehabilitation of subjects with migraine-related dizziness in both groups. Hence, based on the results, both therapies were equally effective in improving the Dizziness Handicap Inventory and dynamic visual acuity test scores; however, habituation exercises were more effective than gaze stability exercises in improving the Motion Sensitivity Quotient scores in the treatment of migraine-related dizziness.
Keywords: Migraine-related dizziness, postural instability, gaze stability exercise, vestibulo-ocular reflex, habituation exercise, repetitive provocative stimulus