REHABILITATION OF BALANCE AND VESTIBULAR DISORDER
It’s not all in your head!

Vestibular Rehabilitation:
A specific physical therapy approach that is non-invasive for patients with vestibular and balance disorders.
A systemic, individually designed regimen of exercises and activities aimed at decreasing vertigo, dizziness and imbalance of patients who have vestibular dysfunction.

Goals of the Vestibular Program:
Decrease patient’s feelings of vertigo/dizziness
Improve balance/postural control
Improve gaze stability
Improve overall endurance


Management of patients with vestibular disorders is a complex problem. Dizziness and balance problems account for 5-10% of all physician visits and affect 40% of people over age of 40. Dizziness is the number one reason for physician visits by people over the ago of 45.

Indications:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Labyrinthitis
Vestibular neuronitis
Chronic vestibulopathy
Disequilibrium of aging
Post-surgical imbalance
Connective tissue disorders
Bilateral vestibular weakness from ototoxicity
Meniere’s syndrome
Perilymph fistula
Vertigo of unknown etiology

Referral Sources:
A referral for physical therapy should be made after appropriate medical diagnostic testing has been completed.
Otolaryngologists
Neurologists
Any physician

Physical Therapy Evaluation consists of the following:
Extensive interview with the patient regarding symptoms, chief complaint and functional limitations.
Neuromuscular examination (muscle strength, range of motion, sensation, posture, tone)
Oculomotor exam (smooth pursuit, vestibulo-ocular reflex, saccades)
Positioning exam (Hallpike-Dix, Motion Sensitivity Qoutient)
Balance/Postural Control evaluation (using functional, outcome-based measures)

Treatment Program:
Each program is individualized for the patient that may include:
Education
Home exercise program
Habituation exercises
Eye exercises
Balance exercises
General conditioning activities (e.g. walking)
Pertinent functional activities impacting the patient’s life or work

If you would like more information or to schedule your first appointment please call (231) 924-3195.