What is vestibular rehabilitation therapy, and who can benefit from it?

Most people don’t think twice about good balance. We usually take it for granted, and easily walk across uneven surfaces, get out of bed in the middle of the night, and go up and down stairs, without any issues or stumbling. However, when the vestibular system starts to impair our balance, these activities can be exhausting, challenging and even dangerous.

Problems with the vestibular system may result in symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, and disequilibrium, among others.

How Healers of Motion Helps Patients With Vestibular Disorders

At Healers of Motion Physical therapy, we provided skilled therapy for vestibular disorders. Therapy is provided by a certified, licensed vestibular system therapist with extensive post graduate training specifically for this condition. So to begin, lets answer the most common questions our patients have.

What Is The Vestibular System?

Your vestibular system is what aids in automatically detecting head position and motion, and helps you adjust and react when there are changes to it.

The vestibular system can be divided into two main systems: the central system (the brain and brainstem) and the peripheral system (inner ear and pathways to the brainstem.) Additionally, it includes your peripheral vestibular nerves.

Within your inner ears there are vestibular organs that sense and measure head rotation, and head tilting. The vestibular nerve then connects your inner ear to the midbrain and cerebellum, and transmits the information from head movement to the brain where it is processed.

What Are Some Symptoms of Vestibular Balance Disorder:

Dizziness.

Feeling off-balance.

Feeling as if you are floating or as if the world is spinning.

Blurred vision.

Disorientation.

Falling or stumbling.

Vertigo.

Nausea.

Vision impairment.

Cognitive changes.

Brain fog.

Hearing loss.

Treatment For Vestibular Disorders

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is an exercise-based treatment program designed to treat and alleviate both the primary and secondary problems due to vestibular disorders. It can alleviate many symptoms, primarily vertigo and dizziness, gaze instability, and/or imbalance and falls.

Plans of treatment will be different for each patient depending on the type of vestibular impairments, and since no two cases are the same.

Therapy will include an exercise based program to reduce vertigo and dizziness, gaze instability, and reduce imbalance; This is achieved through the methods of habituation, substitution, and adaptation.

Habituation aids in desensitizing the you to vestibular movement.

Adaptation works to enable the nerve impulses in the brain to shift or adapt to incorrect signals from the vestibular system.

Substitution employs strategies of using other body functions to replace the missing vestibular function.

Can Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Reduce My Symptoms?

Yes! Therapy is provided by a licensed occupational therapist or physical therapist with extensive post graduate training.

Depending on the severity of the patients condition, treatment typically include therapy once a week for 2-3 weeks up to 8-12 weeks based on the condition.

Along with therapy, we will help you to establish an at home exercise program, educate you on the science of the vestibular system and related problems, as well as how to deal with the challenges and difficulties associated with vestibular disorders.

Through this multifaceted approach, patients can expect to see significant improvements in their conditions with greatly reduced severity of symptoms.

Yoga For Balance

Yoga has been shown to be effective in improving balance, and can be a great

addition to your vestibular rehabilitation program.

Your Source For Quality Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy

Our experienced team at Healers of Motion Physical Therapy in Pembroke Pines, FL is here and available to provide the highest quality of care available. Therapy sessions are one on one, you won’t be rushed through treatment. You’ll be treated in a clean, professional center, without feeling crowded by other patients or therapists. Our warm welcoming staff is knowledgeable and friendly, and highly skilled at what we do! Call us today to schedule your consultation and treatment. 954-861-0252