Vestibular rehabilitation can help with dizziness

Dizziness can be caused by inner ear issues or vestibular issues. The vestibular system is a set of paired organs located in our inner ear that allow us to maintain our sense of balance, as well as eye-head coordination. Vestibular issues include balance and motion difficulties, and vestibular rehabilitation can help if you’re experiencing these in addition to dizziness. Let’s look at how vestibular rehabilitation works and why it might be able to help with your symptoms of dizziness.

Dizziness, Vertigo, and Motion Sickness

If you’re suffering from any of these conditions, don’t give up hope! Treatments for vestibular disorders are available, and relief may be as close as one visit to a specialist like me. Vestibular disorders result when your ears, brain, and eyes become confused about what they’re supposed to be doing. Your eyes send confusing information to your brain about how fast you’re moving and in which direction; your brain sends conflicting information back to your eyes about where they should look next; and your inner ear sends incorrect information to both your eyes and brain about how much gravity is pulling you in any given direction. The result? Dizziness or vertigo. . . and frequently motion sickness!

It's important to be able to accurately describe what you are feeling. Dizziness is a sensation of imbalance. Vertigo is a sensation that either you or the room you are in are spinning. Motion sickness typically occurs in a moving vehicle. You may also have symptoms of lightheadedness or nausea with different types of vestibular disorders. Symptoms of vestibular disorders can be very debilitating, but many people don’t know about treatment options such as vestibular rehabilitation.

What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular Rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that uses targeted exercises to improve symptoms associated with damage or dysfunction of your vestibular system. This type of therapy uses visual and tactile feedback to retrain your brain and eye muscles, helping you recover from vertigo, motion sickness, or balance issues. Most patients start seeing results after just one session, but full recovery often takes up to eight weeks. To learn more about Vestibular Rehabilitation treatments I offer, call today!

What Can Vestibular Rehabilitation Do For Me?

Vestibular Rehabilitation therapy improves motion-sensing capabilities in your vestibular system, and helps your eyes, ears and brain to work together more effectively. By working on exercises designed to recalibrate body signals, you become able to cope better with everyday movements and activities such as walking down stairs, rolling over in bed, standing up from a seated position, or riding in a car. By treating the vestibular system through active exercises, your vestibular system works better and you begin to feel better. Troublesome headaches, dizziness, and nausea go away, and you are able to think more clearly and be more confident.

How Long Does Vestibular Rehabilitation Take?

Because most patients report an immediate sense of relief following their first session, it’s worth seeking out if you experience these conditions regularly. Most of my patients demonstrate a significant measurable improvement within two weeks of starting treatment. Depending on your specific needs and goals, it may take six months or longer before you fully reach your goals. Vestibular conditions can vary greatly from person to person, so you will need a thorough evaluation to create your customized treatment plan.

What Kind of Exercises Are Done During Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular Rehabilitation exercises involve tasks that are designed to improve an individual’s vestibular function and balance. Vestibular exercises are different for each person. They are customized based on your specific symptoms, needs, and goals. During a series of appointments, we'll work together to find exercises that will work best for you. These may include sitting in a chair and moving your eyes and head in specific patterns, lying down while rolling, or performing activities while standing, or even while walking. My patients also typically need activities to improve their balance to supplement their vestibular rehabilitation and decrease their risk of injuries from falling.

Ready to get your balance back? Sign up for your free consultation today.