About Vestibular Rehabilitation

• • What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

    Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise approach to managing symptoms of inner ear disorders.

    • Decrease dizziness
    • Improve stability with ambulation
    • Increase general activity levels

  • Who Can Benefit from Rehabilitation?

    People with the following functional problems may benefit from a referral to a rehabilitation program:

    • Persistent position or movement-related dizziness
    • Disequilibrium or imbalance
    • Increased sensitivity to visual motion stimuli, difficulty focusing
    • Secondary complaints such as fatigue, headaches and muscle tension because of dizziness
    • Symptoms resulting from concussion

  • How Can a Vestibular Physical Therapist Help?

    A Vestibular Therapist will perform a clinical assessment, which focuses on three major areas:

    • Evaluation of the neuromusculosketal system including general range- of-motion, strength, sensation and coordination testing
    • Balance and gait assessment
    • Vertigo assessment

    Balance and gait assessment includes testing that allows comparison of a person’s level of balance function to his or her age group. Static and dynamic balance skills are assessed during gait.

    Vertigo assessment begins with a dizziness questionnaire to determine the frequency and severity of symptoms. Specific position testing helps to determine the cause of vertigo so it can be treated effectively.

    After the assessment the therapist establishes an individualized functional program. Specific maneuvers and exercises are used to treat the dizziness.

  • What Happens in the Exercise Program?

    The Vestibular Rehabilitation program consists of exercises in these areas:

    • Canalith repositioning maneuvers for the treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
    • Habituation exercises for management of dizziness
    • Balance retraining exercises designed to improve coordination of muscle responses as well as using sensory information for balance control
    • Fitness exercises to increase general activity levels

    In addition to their home program, patients are seen in Rehabilitation Services one to two times per week for an average of two to five weeks. During outpatient therapy, progress is monitored and home exercises are modified as needed to achieve optimal patient outcomes.