Vestibular Exercises Combined with Table Tennis Exercises May Yield More Effective Outcomes - A Preliminary Randomized Study

Q: What question did the study aim to answer?

The study assessed whether vestibular exercises combined with table tennis (CVE-TT) improve balance performance and posture more effectively than conventional vestibular exercises (CVE) for home-based use.

Q: How were participants and interventions organized?

Healthy subjects with balance scores close to normal were assigned to two groups: CVE (n=36) and CVE combined with table tennis (CVE-TT) (n=36). The programs were performed for six weeks.

Q: What were the main findings and conclusion?

Sensory Organization Test measures showed statistically significant improvements in key balance-related data for the CVE-TT group compared with CVE. The conclusion states that the combined CVE-TT program led to greater enhancement in balance performance and may be more efficient and entertaining for individuals with dizziness.

Sep 5, 2026

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Conventional vestibular exercises (CVE) for patients with dizziness may be insufficient for improving posture and balance. This preliminary randomized study evaluated whether vestibular exercises combined with table tennis (CVE-TT) provide a more effective, enjoyable, and cost-effective home-based approach. Healthy subjects with near-normal balance scores completed either CVE or CVE-TT programs for six weeks. Post-intervention results from sensory organization testing indicated CVE-TT improved balance performance more than CVE.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Introduction

Rationale for vestibular rehabilitation

Role of table tennis in balance and visuospatial control

64 Original Investigation DOI: 10.4274/jarem. galenos.2025.34635 J Acad Res Med 2025;15(2):64-70 Vestibular Exercises Combined with Table Tennis Exercises May Yield More Effective Outcomes: A Preliminary Randomized Study Kerem Ersin1, Cem Yeral2, Serkan Eti1, Mustafa Bülent Şerbetçioğlu2 1İstanbul Medipol University Vocational School, Department of Audiology, İstanbul, Türkiye 2İstanbul Medipol University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Audiology, İstanbul, Türkiye Cite this article as: Ersin K, Yeral C, Eti S, Şerbetçioğlu MB. Vestibular exercises combined with table tennis exercises may yield more effective outcomes: a preliminary randomized study. J Acad Res Med. 2025;15(2):64-70 ABSTRACT Objective: Conventional vestibular exercises (CVE) for patients with dizziness are sometimes not beneficial enough for the patients. It is thought that table tennis exercises may be beneficial in these patients, especially to improve the vestibular system and posture. The objective of our original study was to assess the vestibular exercises combined with table tennis exercises that can be done comfortably at home, are fun and cost-effective method on body posture. Methods: In this preliminary study, healthy subjects with balance scores close to normal were recruited. CVE (n=36) and conventional vestibular exercises combined with table tennis (CVE-TT) (n=36) program was performed on two different groups for a 6-weeks. Individuals were evaluated with Sensory Organization Test pre and post the study. Results: In the CVE-TT group, a statistically significant difference was found between Strategy 5-6, composite (COM) and vestibular (VEST) data scores before and after the study (p<0 .05) . There was a statistically significant difference between Strategy 6 and preference (PREF) data scores in the CVE group in the pre-post comparison (p<0 .05), while there was a non-significant decrease in the CVE-TT group. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that the CVE-TT exercise programme leads to a more significant enhancement in balance performance when compared with CVE exercises. For individuals with dizziness (e.g., residual dizziness) it will be more efficient and entertaining to apply this new method that they can apply at home instead of the classical rehabilitation program. Keywords: Balance, computerized dynamic posturography, table tennis, vestibular rehabilitation INTRODUCTION Balance is essential for many activities of daily living and balance problems (e. g., falls) are major public health problem. To prevent falls, individuals must control their center of mass location over the base of support during both voluntary movements, and in response to external, destabilizing forces (1) . Postural stability is achieved by integrating vestibular, visual and somatosensory inputs to produce a motor response (2) . The vestibular system plays various roles in postural control. The role it plays in the postural task varies according to the nature of the task and environmental conditions. Similarly, in situations where somatosensory information is less available and visual information is not available in the moment, vestibular information may play a dominant role in maintaining postural control (3) . Vestibular rehabilitation exercises improve quality of life by reducing the degree of handicap, improving the ability to perform daily tasks, and providing long-term postural stability. Rehabilitation programs offer a variety of benefits, including improvements in overall health and balance, a safer gait, and reduced disability due to dizziness (4) . Rehabilitation strategies have been applied successfully in the last few decades to initiate central compensation of the tonus imbalance and facilitate substitution in different types of peripheral vestibular dysfunction (5) . Table tennis is an Olympic sports branch and one of the most widely played racquet sports. It requires complex visuospatial perception and mov

FAQs

What question did the study aim to answer?

The study assessed whether vestibular exercises combined with table tennis (CVE-TT) improve balance performance and posture more effectively than conventional vestibular exercises (CVE) for home-based use.

How were participants and interventions organized?

Healthy subjects with balance scores close to normal were assigned to two groups: CVE (n=36) and CVE combined with table tennis (CVE-TT) (n=36). The programs were performed for six weeks.

What were the main findings and conclusion?

Sensory Organization Test measures showed statistically significant improvements in key balance-related data for the CVE-TT group compared with CVE. The conclusion states that the combined CVE-TT program led to greater enhancement in balance performance and may be more efficient and entertaining for individuals with dizziness.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Grenda