Dizziness, Vestibular & Balance Training
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based treatment program designed to improve balance and reduce problems related to dizziness. Dizziness can include feeling unsteady; woozy (swimming feeling in head); lightheaded; feeling as though you may pass out; and sensations of moving, spinning, floating, swaying, tilting, or whirling. These sensations are often referred to as Vertigo.
Vertigo can occur while standing, lying down or when changing positions, and they can last from seconds to minutes, or even days. For some people, the symptoms are constant, while others experience only short episodes of symptoms.
Common symptoms that can be helped with Vestibular Rehabilitation Training (VRT) include:
- Dizziness or blurry vision with head movement
- Generalized “dizziness, wooziness, foggy head or spinning feelings
- Imbalance or the need to hold onto objects while walking
- Frequent falls
- Neck tightness, stiffness and/or pain
- Headaches
What causes dizziness or vertigo?
Each year, millions of people visit their physician with symptoms of vertigo. It is the most common complaint for people 75 years of age and older; however, it can occur at any age. Vertigo is generally not serious, but can be a sign of a mechanical problem. It can be due to an inner ear disorder, a side effect of medications, a sign of neck dysfunction, or it can be due to more serious problems, such as a brain or a heart problem.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Treatments
To begin treatments, our specially trained, licensed physical therapists perform a complete evaluation and medical history review. They will identify any issues concerning balance, gait (walking pattern), neck motion, visual stability, as well as any other potential concerns. Based on the evaluation, the therapist will design an individualized treatment plan to improve any deficits.
Vestibular treatments may include: vision stability training, posture training, stretching and strengthening exercises, balance retraining, walking, neck motion exercises, and if needed, general fitness exercises.