What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based and/or manual program, designed by a specialized physical and occupational therapists, to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems in patients with various vestibular issues. While Dizziness is generally not serious, it is often a sign of a mechanical problem in the body that should be addressed. Dizziness can be due to an inner ear disorder, a side effect of various medications, a sign of cervical dysfunction, or due to a more serious problem such as a brain or a heart problem. See your specialized therapist at NELA Rehab for more information and to determine if your vertigo/dizziness symptoms can be treated with therapy.
Who needs vestibular rehabilitation?
While anyone who suffers form dizziness/vertigo symptoms may benefit from therapy, common diagnoses of those appropriate for vestibular therapy as as follows:
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Imbalance
- Ménière’s Syndrome
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Neck-related Dizziness
- Migraines
- Stroke
- Brain Injury
Common symptoms that can be helped with vestibular rehabilitation include:
- 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
What type of recovery/outcome can I expect from vestibular rehabilitation?
Expected vestibular rehabilitation outcomes include:
- Decreased fall risk
- Decreased 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
