Vestibular Rehab

What is the vestibular system?

The vestibular system is the portion of the inner ear and brain that helps control your balance and equilibrium. If damaged, the vestibular system can make you feel unbalanced – like you are suddenly spinning, tilting, or floating.

Causes & risk factors of vestibular disorders.

Vestibular disorders affect about 35% of adults over the age of 40 and account for 60 million doctor visits every year. Even as much as 5% (3.3 million) of children from ages 3-17 have a dizziness or balance problem. Request an appointment.

Common disorders that can affect the function of the vestibular system are:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)-
• Vestibular Neuritis
• Vestibular Labyrinthitis
• Meniere’s Disease
• Ototoxicity
• Perilymph fistula
• Acoustic Neuroma
• Stroke (CVA)
• CHI/TBI (Closed Head Injury / Traumatic Brain Injury)
• Post-Concussion Syndrome
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Symptoms of vestibular issues.

Symptoms for vestibular dysfunction can be brought about my many forms of pathology, and can be differentiated by their anatomic origin as either central (within the brain), or peripheral (within the vestibular apparatus in the inner ear). Symptoms of vestibular issues include:

• Vertigo
• Dizziness
• Imbalance
• Lightheadedness
• Disequilibrium
• Oscillopsia (visual changes while moving)
• Nystagmus
• Ocular tracking difficulty and eye fatigue
• Nausea
• Falls
• Difficulty walking

Symptoms of a dysfunctional vestibular system can last a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and go.

Recovery from vestibular disorders.

While there are numerous ways to treat and recover from vestibular disorders, physical therapy has been one of the most successful forms of treatment. By assessing your symptoms, our physical therapists will determine the best course of treatment in conjunction with your physician. From Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) to Post-Concussion Syndrome, our specially trained physical therapists can eliminate your symptoms as well as improve your balance, your safety, and your function in daily life.

How Vestibular Rehab Works

Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on helping your body adapt to dysfunction in the vestibular system. It involves a series of rehabilitation exercises tailored to address your unique symptoms and needs.

Rehabilitation Exercises

• Exercises in vestibular therapy focus on improving balance, eye movement coordination, and postural stability.
  Gaze stability exercises help improve your ability to maintain a steady visual focus during head movements.
• Habituation exercises reduce vestibular dizziness by gradually exposing you to the movements that trigger your symptoms, allowing your brain to adapt.

Adaptation and Compensation

• Through vestibular rehab, the brain learns to adapt and compensate for the loss of function in the inner ear, helping to improve motion tolerance and reduce dizziness.

Training and Practice

• Our therapists will guide you through exercises that focus on improving your balance, reducing dizziness, and strengthening your body’s ability to handle movement and visual stimulation.

Vestibular Rehabilitation FAQ