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Physical Therapy Management of Vestibular Migraine of Childhood: A Case Report

Hayward A, Farrell L, Sweeney J

Pediatric physical therapy : the official publication of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association, 2025

Abstract

PURPOSE

This case report presents the successful management of an adolescent with headache, dizziness, vertigo, and unsteadiness using the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3) and International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD) diagnostic criteria to screen for vestibular migraine of childhood (VMC) and rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. The physical therapist (PT) (1) used the diagnostic criteria from the ICHD-3 and the ICVD to determine the etiology, (2) taught protective lifestyle behaviors to reduce migraine symptoms, and (3) modified 2 physical therapy clinical practice guidelines to direct treatment.

KEY POINTS

The intervention prioritized adopting protective lifestyle behaviors to manage migraine symptoms before introducing exercises targeting vestibular and exertional intolerance symptoms.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

The diagnostic criteria helped inform the PT that the symptoms were consistent with VMC, which guided the intervention. Protective lifestyle behaviors and physical therapy strategies proved effective with symptom management.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a case report, done in people. Its evidence level is 5 of 5 (Very low · case / narrative / animal / in vitro / in silico). Case reports, narrative reviews, and animal, cell or computer-model studies give the weakest evidence for human health.

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