Postural stability in patients with vestibular migraine and probable vestibular migraine in the absence of acute vestibular symptoms

Purpose: To investigate postural stability in patients with vestibular migraine (VM) and probable vestibular migraine (PVM) in the absence of acute vestibular symptoms.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records at our balance disorder clinic. The 30 consecutive VM patients and 25 consecutive PVM patients enrolled in this study all underwent foam posturography. 194 healthy control subjects with no history of dizziness or balance dysfunction was also enrolled. Multiple regression analyses were performed to see whether subjects' age, sex, or diagnosis (VM, PVM and control) were associated with the posturographic findings. Dependent variables were the mean velocity of the center of pressure movement (velocity) and the area enclosed by the center of pressure movement (area) in Fixed/Open, Fixed/Closed, Foam/Open and Foam/Closed conditions, the Romberg's ratio in Velocity/Fixed, Velocity/Foam, Area/Fixed and Area/Foam conditions, and the foam ratio in Velocity/Open, Velocity/Closed, Area/Open and Area/Closed. Independent variables were sex (male, female), age, and diagnosis (VM, PVM and control).

Results: VM and PVM patients showed significantly increased velocity and area compared to healthy controls with and without foam rubber. VM and PVM patients showed significantly lower foam ratios compared to healthy controls in velocity and area, both with open and closed eyes. On the other hand, there were no significant differences in velocity or area, Romberg's ratio or foam ratio between VM patients and PVM patients in any conditions.

Conclusions: Both VM and PVM patients had more postural instability than healthy controls. There were no differences in postural stability between VM and PVM patients.