Physical Therapy for Vertigo
Dizziness and vertigo can be debilitating and cause your world to “spin” and be out of control. Dizziness (including vertigo) affects about 15% to over 20% of adults. 35% of US adults age 40 years and older had evidence of balance dysfunction.
BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is the most common vestibular disorder. BPPV accounts for up to one-third of vertigo presentations, can occur at any age.
Our certified balance/vestibular therapists are trained to evaluate and develop treatment plans to quickly help you to recover from dizziness or long term balance issues.
Seeing Our Balance/Vestibular Team
What Can I Expect From My Vestibular Therapy Appointment?
You can expect a comprehensive evaluation and personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. During the initial assessment, our experienced physical therapists will conduct a thorough examination to identify the root cause of your balance issues or dizziness. This may include tests to assess your posture, gait, eye movements, and inner ear function. Based on the findings, we will create a customized therapy plan that may involve exercises to improve your balance, coordination, and strength, as well as techniques to retrain your vestibular system. Our goal is to help you regain stability, reduce dizziness, and enhance your overall quality of life. Throughout your sessions, we will closely monitor your progress and adjust your treatment plan as needed to ensure optimal results.
Vestibular Therapy
Diagnoses Treated
Vestibular therapy is specialized physical therapy for balance disorders. These disorders include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular neuritis
- Vestibular migraine
- Post-sports concussion
- Cervicogenic dizziness.
Our vestibular physical therapy team will complete an extensive medical history, including your current lifestyle and future goals, followed by a detailed evaluation of your inner ear issue. Our vestibular-certified team will perform various standardized tests for balance/gait and inner eye movement. An individualized balance retraining plan will include:
- Focus on getting you back to normal activities as quickly as possible.
- Gaze stabilization strategies.
- Assisting the brain to overcome dizziness and improve your balance awareness.
- Habituation exercises.
- Improves one’s brain’s compensation for injuries or abnormalities within the vestibular or balance system.
- A maneuver performed by the physical therapist to manipulate the calcium crystals found in the inner ear.
- Canalith repositioning maneuver or others.
- Various maneuvers are performed by the physical therapist to manipulate the calcium crystals found in the inner ear to aid in acute vestibular issues.
- Individualized home exercises.
- Your therapist will guide you through your exercises to perform in your home.
The most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, post-sports concussion, and cervicogenic dizziness.
Vestibular therapy along with balance training has many benefits including:
- Decreased fall risk
- Improved balance
- Decreased dizziness
- Increased confidence to maintain balance
- Recovery from concussions
- Return to athletic performance
