Vestibular Therapy
What is Vestibular Therapy?
What is Vestibular Therapy?
Vestibular therapy is specialized physical therapy for inner ear disorders. These disorders include but are not limited to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, post sports concussion, and cervicogenic dizziness.
What should I expect at my vestibular therapy appointment?
Firstly, your vestibular physical therapist will complete an extensive medical history, including your current lifestyle and future goals. Secondly, they conduct an evaluation of your inner ear issue. Our caring and empathetic therapists will perform tests using specialized equipment to view eye movements. In addition, they will conduct standardized tests for balance. Lastly, they will use this information to develop an individualized treatment plan which includes:
- Balance retraining and balance strategies
- Assists the body to regain confidence in activities of daily living and work
- Sensory organization techniques and gaze stabilization strategies
- Empowers the body to use its senses to overcome dizziness and decreased balance
- Habituation exercises
- Aids the body to decrease dizziness by repeatedly exposing it to a stimulus
- Canalith repositioning maneuver
- A maneuver performed by the physical therapist to manipulate the calcium crystals found in the inner ear
- Individualized home exercises
- Your therapist will guide you through your exercises and email you videos of them so you can do them at home
Where is your Vestibular system?
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that processes information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. If there is dysfunction in these processing areas, vestibular disorders can result. Vestibular disorders can also result from genetic or environmental conditions, or occur for unknown reasons.
How common is Dizziness due to Vestibular origin?
Dizziness (including vertigo) affects about 15% to over 20% of adults. Additionally, it has been reported that 35% of US adults age 40 years and older had evidence of balance dysfunction.
BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) is the most common vestibular disorder. BPPV accounts for up to one-third of vertigo presentations, can occur at any age, most common is 5th-6th decades of life. Furthermore, vestibular migraine is the second most common cause of dizziness with prevalence of 6–9%.
Who can benefit from Vestibular Therapy?
The most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, post sports concussion, and cervicogenic dizziness.
In conclusion, vestibular therapy along with balance training has many benefits including:
- Decreased fall risk
- Improved balance
- Decreased dizziness
- Increased body strength
- Improved ability to keep vision steady
- Improved neck motion
- Reduced symptoms
- Return to prior level of movement
- Increased confidence to maintain balance
- Return to athletic performance
At Agile Physical Therapy we don’t look at you as your injury, we see you for how your injury has affected your life. We will work with you to achieve your goals. Learn why Agile is the best in the business.