Man Loses “Land Legs” in Rare Syndrome

An article published by Medical Daily (Sunny, 2025) described one man’s experience with Mal de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS). Mario Salcedo lives on cruise ships and completed 1,000 cruises over the last 25 years. When Mario is on land, he continues to have a rocking/swaying sensation and feels like he is still on a boat. These symptoms resolve when he is back on the water. Mr. Salcedo was diagnosed with MdDS.

This condition is thought to be the product of central vestibular system inefficiency in compensating to a stable surface following previous adaptation to prolonged conveyance. MdDS is more common in those with a history of migraine and female patients between the ages of 30 and 60. According to this article, approximately 150,000 Americans have MdDS.

MdDS is seen in vestibular clinics, so audiologists need to be familiar with this condition. According to the Barany Society (Cha et al, 2020), the diagnostic criteria for MdDs include:

• Non-spinning vertigo including oscillatory perception (rocking, bobbing, or ‘swaying) for most of the day
• Onset within 48 hours after the end of exposure to passive motion
• Symptoms decrease temporarily with exposure to passive motion
• Symptoms continue for more than 48 hours
• Symptoms not due to another disease or disorder

References

Sunny, S. (2025) Man loses his ‘land legs’ after 25 years in cruise ships: know about this rare syndrome. Medical Daily.

Cha YH, Baloh RW, Cho C, Magnusson M, Song, …Staab JP. (2020) Mal de débarquement syndrome diagnostic criteria: Consensus document of the Classification Committee of the Bárány Society. Journal of vestibular Research: Equilibrium & Orientation 30(5):285–293.