Vestibular Therapy

Dizziness impacting your life? If so, you’re not alone. More than 69 million people have experienced vestibular dysfunction at some point in their lives. Vestibular therapy - an exercise-based program, designed by a specialty trained vestibular physical therapist, to improve balance and reduce problems related to dizziness - can aid in controlling symptoms, reducing falls and improving your overall quality of life. Vestibular issues are often caused by a disorder of the inner ear, neck dysfunction or another condition. 

Special evaluation techniques are used to determine your specific need.

Common Symptoms of Vestibular Disorders

Most adults living with a vestibular disorder go undiagnosed and never receive treatment. As a result, their quality of life, their ability to perform both routine and unique has been diminished. Patients suffering from vestibular disorders often experience:

• ● Dizziness or blurry vision with head movements
• ● Neck tightness, stiffness and/or pain
• ● Imbalance or the need to hold onto objects when walking
• ● Headaches
• ● Frequent falls
• ● Generalized “dizziness, wooziness and foggy head” feelings
• ● Vertigo/spinning

Treatment Exercises

Examples of exercises you may learn during therapy sessions include:

• ● Vision stability training
• ● Posture training
• ● Stretching and strengthening exercises
• ● Balance retraining
• ● Walking exercises
• ● Neck mobility/stretching exercises
• ● General fitness exercises
• ● Ergonomic training (This advice is given so that workplace furnishings can be adjusted to improve a person’s posture and decrease any discomforts.)

Recovery/Outcomes

Expected vestibular rehabilitation outcomes include:

• ● Decreased risk of falling
• ● A decrease in dizziness symptoms
• ● Improved balance
• ● Improved ability to stabilize vision/gaze
• ● Increased body strength
• ● Return to prior level of movement/function
• ● Increase in confidence in ability to maintain balance
• ● Improved neck motion, reduced symptoms