Vestibular Rehabilitation (Balance & Fall Prevention)

About This Treatment

Patient's in Franciscan Health’s vestibular rehabilitation program receive a detailed evaluation to help develop an individualized treatment plan including specific head, body and eye exercises to be performed both in the therapy setting and at home. Many times, treatment may include increasing activities and exercise in order to strengthen muscles and increase tolerance for movements that cause symptoms.

At first, some of the exercises and activities may cause an increase in symptoms as the body and brain attempt to sort out a new pattern of movements. With time and consistent practice, however, coordination of signals from the eyes, muscles, and vestibular system can lead to improvement.

Franciscan Health's vestibular rehabilitation program helps to treat the following conditions:

• Balance
• Falls
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Dizziness and vestibular disorders

Who may benefit from vestibular rehabilitation?

If you have any of the symptoms below, you may benefit from physical therapy testing and treatment for vestibular and balance problems:

• Dizziness
• A spinning sensation
• Nausea
• Balance problems
• Focusing problems
• Blurry vision
• Difficulty walking
• Headaches

What is vestibular rehabilitation?

The vestibular system is a sensory system that contributes to sense of balance and spatial orientation. If the brain cannot rely on the information it receives from the vestibular system, the ability to maintain posture and coordinate balance can become overly dependent on vision or on the information received from the muscles and joints. If the vestibular system is not working properly, a person will lose proprioception - the sense of relative position of neighboring parts of the body and strength of effort being employed in movement.

Vestibular rehabilitation (also known as balance therapy) is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to decrease dizziness, improve balance and increase general activity. In addition, vestibular rehabilitation can help with fall prevention and vertigo.