Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Physical therapy for people with inner-ear conditions that affect balance
Improve Balance and Prevent Falls with Vestibular Rehabilitation
Your vestibular system allows you to maintain your balance. With components in your inner ear and brain, this system keeps you upright and steady. Like other bodily systems, however, your vestibular system can develop problems.
Vestibular rehabilitation helps you improve balance disorders and resolve, or compensate for, vestibular conditions. At Lahey Clinic, specially trained physical therapists make this possible with exercise-based treatments.
What Is Vestibular Physical Therapy (PT)?
Physical therapy is key to addressing vestibular conditions. There are a variety of vestibular rehabilitation exercises. They retrain your vestibular system and improve your balance. Our physical therapists teach you how to do these exercises in our offices so that you can then do them at home.
Some common exercises:
- Balance retraining
- Eye movement exercises
- Repositioning maneuvers
- Strength and flexibility training
Conditions We Treat
You may benefit from vestibular rehab if doctors diagnose you with any of the following:
- Bilateral inner ear dysfunction
- Chronic imbalance related to Meniere’s disease and other conditions
- Episodes of benign positional vertigo
- Multi-factorial gait and balance disorders
- Unilateral inner ear dysfunction
Symptoms of Vestibular Disorders
If you have signs of a vestibular disorder, speak with your healthcare provider. Possible symptoms:
- Disequilibrium (issues with steadiness and balance that often cause falls)
- Dizziness
- Imbalance
- Lightheadedness
- Motion sickness
- Spinning
- Vertigo (sensing movement in your surroundings that isn’t actually occurring)
Hearing loss and ringing in your ears also may be signs of vestibular disorders, but not always. With the right diagnosis, you can get the help you need.
Fall Prevention and Safety for Seniors
Fall prevention is an important part of vestibular rehabilitation. Even if tests show that you don’t have a vestibular disorder, we can help you prevent a fall. Because falls are most common in seniors, our services are especially helpful to older adults dealing with other issues related to senior health.
We use screening tests to determine your risk of falling. Then, we develop a treatment plan based on your results.
