Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation
This program offers comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment plans for people suffering from impaired balance, vertigo and dizziness.

Research shows that balance impairment is a major contributor to falling in elderly people. A fall, vertigo and dizziness can lead to a decrease in activity level. These people will often avoid specific movement or activity that make them dizzy or off balance. This can further lead to fear and anxiety about returning to their prior level of function.

This program offers comprehensive evaluation and individualized treatment plans for people suffering from impaired balance, vertigo and dizziness.

Research shows that balance impairment is a major contributor to falling in elderly people. A fall, vertigo and dizziness can lead to a decrease in activity level. These people will often avoid specific movement or activity that make them dizzy or off balance. This can further lead to fear and anxiety about returning to their prior level of function.

Most people are familiar with two of our sensory systems that help control balance: vision and somatosensory (feedback from specialized receptors in our muscles and joints sense the position of our trunk and limbs). The third and very important system is our vestibular system. The vestibular system is a complex structure of our inner ear which detects the position movement of the head as well as the direction of gravity. Signals from the vestibular system provide critically important sensory input that the brain needs in order to help control balance in standing and walking. The vestibular system also controls certain types of reflexive eye movement that make it possible to see clearly while walking or running.

The vestibular system can become damaged by disease or injury causing very debilitating and disturbing symptoms. These include but are not limited to dizziness, vertigo (violent spinning sensation), difficulty standing and walking especially in the dark and on uneven or soft surfaces.

Balance impairments tend to increase as we grow older. Problems can arise in a number of contributing system, i.e., diminished senses, weakened motor control, attention deficits, etc., and a multidisciplinary approach to balance assessment is warranted.

• decreased reaction times
• accurate input from the visual system is decreased
• vestibular system input diminishes (degenerative changes)
• proprioceptive input declines (decreased sensation)

BPPV is a type of dizziness caused by an abnormal reaction of the balance mechanism of the brain to certain movements of the head. Turning the affected ear downward typically aggravates the symptoms.

The good news is the loss of balance and vertigo can be treated effectively by a Physical Therapist certified in the evaluation and treatment for vestibular disorders.Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise approach to decrease or eliminate symptoms of dizziness, imbalance or vertigo due to an inner ear disorder. Therapeutic exercises “retrain the brain” to more accurately interpret and use information from our sensory systems of balance.

Vestibular rehabilitation training promotes stability, steady gait and improved balance; therefore diminishing symptoms and fear of falling. Patients learn how to compensate or rehabilitate the problems taking place within the balance systems and therefore prevent dizziness and unsteadiness which can lead to a sedentary lifestyle and serious falls.