What is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy?
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is an exercise-based treatment program to help improve quality of life for people who have balance issues due to an illness or condition such as:
- Stroke
- Migraine headaches
- Brain injury
- Vertigo
- Inner ear problems
- Infections in the inner ear
Each treatment program is unique to the individual and depends on the cause of your imbalance. Two common causes are:
- Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV), which is the feeling of spinning or dizziness for short periods of time. Vertigo can happen from little movements like turning your head, rolling over in bed, standing up from a seated position and other daily activities.
- Vestibular Hypofunction, which is when the balance part of the inner ear is not working properly. Factors such as aging, natural changes in your body, concussions or stroke can cause this. Symptoms include feeling off balance, falling often, spinning or difficulty focusing on objects in motion.
Balance issues can happen at any age, but are most common as you get older. Symptoms that may benefit from vestibular therapy include:
- Feeling off-balance
- Dizziness
- Feeling as if you are spinning
- Falling or stumbling
- Blurred vision
- Disorientation
What to Expect
A physical therapist will evaluate your balance, arm and leg strength, flexibility and gait (how you walk). Then a treatment plan will be tailored to your needs based on the results of your evaluation. Your therapist will show you how to do exercises such as:
- Stretching
- Strengthening muscles
- Balance retaining
- Eye movement control
Benefits of Vestibular Therapy
After receiving vestibular therapy, patients report improvements such as:
- Ability to move more freely
- Reduced risk of falling
- Improved balance
- Less dizziness
- Stabilized vision
- Increased body strength
Doing the prescribed exercises on a regular basis at home can further improvements with balance and dizziness.
Next Steps
If you are experiencing dizziness, imbalance, consistent light-headedness, nausea or fatigue from movement, talk to your doctor about referring you for an evaluation with a Bronson physical therapist. To schedule an appointment and discuss whether vestibular therapy may be an option for you, call (269) 575-7010. For more information about Bronson Rehabilitation Services, visit bronsonhealth.com/rehab.
