Vestibular Rehab
What is Vestibular Rehab?
Vestibular Dysfunction can diminish quality of life and impact all aspects of daily living. These symptoms can include vertigo, dizziness, visual disturbance, and/or imbalance. We are able to design a specialized program for each individual not only to relieve the symptoms, but resolve the dysfunction.
What Causes Vestibular Dysfunction?
Dysfunction of this system can be caused by a common cold, virus, sinus infection, or a true inner ear dysfunction. Symptoms may include dizziness, loss of balance, light headiness, and vertigo.
How can Physical Therapy help?
The American Medical Association has named Physical Therapists the practitioner of choice for treatment of vestibular dysfunction. Vestibular Rehabilitation is designed to assist individuals with vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, or sensitivity of movement.
Vestibular Rehabilitation consists of customized activities and exercises to promote adaptation or compensation to a change, deficit, or loss in the vestibular system. Canalith repositioning, formerly known as the Epley Maneuver, is also indicated in specific cases.
Components of the vestibular evaluation include:
- Complete history regarding symptoms
- Oculomotor exam
- Muscle strength, ROM, coordination, and sensation testing
- Gait assessment
- Balance assessment
- Neurological screening
- Motion sensitivity testing
Vestibular Rehab can help with some of these conditions
- Vestibular Neuritis/Labrynthitis
- Meniere’s Disease
- Cervicogenic Dizziness
- Head Trauma including Post Concussion
- Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
- Vestibular Migraines
- Central Vertigo
Let’s answer some of your questions before you make the time to come in!
We want to make sure you’re ready and your time is used appropriately.
What to expect from Initial Evaluation
- Discuss the patient’s functional limitations.
- Evaluate impairments including, but not limited to, pain, strength, ROM, and balance.
- Discuss the patients and the therapist’s goals for aquatic therapy.
- Discuss benefits of aquatic therapy
- Give patients instructions on getting to the pool, what to wear, etc.
- May also give the patient a few land-based exercises to do as a HEP, if the patient has a flexibility issue or a severe strength deficiency.
