Vertigo
Vertigo
Vestibular therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to treat balance and dizziness problems, often related to inner ear disorders or neurological conditions. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, helps control balance and spatial orientation. When this system is disrupted due to injury, illness, or aging, it can lead to symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness, and difficulty maintaining balance. By targeting the specific causes of dizziness or balance issues, vestibular therapy helps patients reduce symptoms, improve quality of life, and return to normal activities safely.
The main goals of vestibular therapy are to:
- Improve Balance: Through exercises that retrain the brain to adapt to changes in the vestibular system, helping patients regain stability and coordination.
- Reduce Dizziness: Techniques such as canalith repositioning (e.g., the Epley maneuver) are used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by repositioning crystals in the inner ear that cause dizziness.
- Increase Tolerance to Movement: Gradual exposure to specific head movements and positions can reduce sensitivity to motion and improve tolerance to everyday activities like walking, bending, or driving.
- Restore Visual-vestibular Coordination: Exercises help synchronize visual information with balance signals, improving overall stability and reducing dizziness when moving or shifting focus.
Vestibular therapy often involves customized exercises like gaze stabilization (focusing on a target while moving the head), balance training (e.g., standing on unstable surfaces), and habituation exercises (gradual exposure to specific movements).
This therapy is effective for a wide range of conditions, including:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Meniere’s disease
- Vestibular neuritis
- Vestibular hypofunction
- Labyrinthitis
- Concussion-related dizziness
- Post-surgical balance issues
- Migraines