Combined biofeedback and vestibular rehabilitation therapy for vestibular migraine: clinical efficacy and neurobiochemical correlates.

Vestibular migraine (VM) leads to recurrent vertigo with limited treatment options available. This study explored the combined effects of biofeedback therapy and vestibular rehabilitation. Researchers enrolled 148 VM patients from January 2022 to March 2024. Patients were divided into four groups: routine intervention, vestibular rehabilitation, biofeedback therapy, and combined therapy. After four weeks, combined therapy showed a significantly higher effective rate of 95%. This was compared to 78% for biofeedback, 76% for vestibular rehabilitation, and 68% for routine intervention. Anxiety and depression scores improved significantly with combined therapy. Additionally, vertigo disability and balance function also showed marked improvement. The combination therapy led to better vestibular function and altered serum biomarker levels. Serum levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid increased, while calcitonin gene-related peptide and acetylcholine decreased. Overall, this combined approach is a promising non-drug treatment for vestibular migraine. Clinical relevance: This research indicates that combined therapy may significantly improve vestibular migraine outcomes for patients, offering a strong non-pharmacological treatment alternative.