The vestibular system connects the inner ear to the brain and helps control balance and eye movement. Disease or injuries to these processing areas can result in vestibular disorders. When the vestibular system is damaged, the brain can no longer rely on it for accurate information about equilibrium and motion, often resulting in dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems.
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy program that can help eliminate or significantly reduce an individual’s symptoms. We design vestibular rehabilitation programs to decrease an individual’s dizziness and visual symptoms and increase their balance and walking functions, ultimately increasing their general activity level.
We can evaluate and treat patients who suffer from symptoms that include:
- Vertigo/spinning sensation
- Dizziness
- Balance problems
- Blurred vision
- Motion sensitivity
Common causes of vestibular dysfunction include:
- BPPV
- Labyrinthitis/Vestibular Neuritis
- Migraine related dizziness
- TBI
- Post Concussive Syndrome/Head Trauma
- Meniere’s Disease
- Ototoxicity (ex. Gentamicin toxicity)
- Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
- Presbystatsis (aging)
- Vestibular Hypofunction
- Cervicogenic Dizziness
Therapy may include:
- Exercises for coordinating eyes and head movements
- Performing habituation exercises to desensitize the vestibular system
- Canalith repositioning techniques for BPPV
- Exercises to improve balance and walking ability
Treatment Plan
The patient’s treatment plan is based on several clinical tests to place them in a clinical trajectory. These tests include clinical interview, symptom profile, neurocognitive testing, vestibular-ocular motor screen (VOMS), balance error scoring system (BESS), BPPV testing, and cervical screening.
Based on this testing, we can assist in making informed decisions about return to activity, progress, vestibular rehab treatment, appropriate referrals, and medication selection (i.e., vestibular migraine, vertigo, anxiety).
With our concussion rehabilitation and vestibular rehabilitation programs, we partner with Impact Applications. This partnership provides us with educational resources, training, and standardized testing that includes normative data and an evidence-based approach in assisting with the diagnoses of both concussion and vestibular patients. These tools aid with proper diagnosis and directing treatment approaches to optimize results.
