The effectiveness of wedge shoes in patients with insufficient vestibular compensation

Objectives Patients who fail to achieve sufficient vestibular compensation after acute vestibular deafferentation show a tendency to deviate toward the affected side. This study evaluated the effectiveness of wedge shoes specially manufactured with a 4 mm inclination on the affected side to patients with chronic vestibular insufficiency. Methods Subjects comprised 13 patients with chronic vestibular insufficiency for >6 months after acute unilateral vestibular dysfunction and 9 healthy volunteers. Subjects underwent vestibular tests wearing wedge shoes and regular shoes. Differences in results were compared. Results Patients showed significant improvements in the straight gait test (p < 0.01), Unterberger–Fukuda stepping test (p < 0.01) and posturography test (p = 0.015) when wearing wedge shoes compared with wearing regular shoes. Conclusion Our results suggested that raising the lateral sole of shoes on the affected side could effectively ameliorate the effects of chronic vestibular insufficiency.