Vestibular therapy/rehabilitation, is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to address balance and dizziness disorders caused by dysfunction in the vestibular system. The vestibular system, located within the inner ear, is responsible for providing information about spatial orientation, balance, and head movement.

Vestibular therapy aims to reduce symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, and motion sensitivity, which can significantly impact daily activities and quality of life. It involves a personalized treatment plan tailored to the individual’s specific vestibular deficits and functional limitations.

Treatment typically includes a combination of exercises and maneuvers aimed at:

1. Improving Balance: Exercises to enhance static and dynamic balance control, including weight shifting, standing on uneven surfaces, and challenging balance reactions.
2. Enhancing Gaze Stability: Techniques to improve visual stability during head movements, such as gaze stabilization exercises and smooth pursuit drills.
3. Reducing Motion Sensitivity: Habituation exercises involve repeated exposure to movements or situations that provoke dizziness or imbalance, helping the brain adapt and reduce sensitivity to vestibular stimuli.
4. Repositioning Maneuvers: Canalith repositioning maneuvers, like the Epley maneuver, are used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by repositioning displaced inner ear crystals.
5. Promoting Central Compensation: Exercises to facilitate central nervous system adaptation and compensation for vestibular deficits, encouraging the brain to rely more on alternative sensory inputs, such as vision and proprioception.
6. Fall Prevention: Education on environmental modifications, safe ambulation techniques, and strategies to prevent falls.
7. Home Exercise Program: Patients are often prescribed a customized home exercise program to reinforce gains made during therapy sessions and promote long-term vestibular system recovery.

Vestibular therapy is typically conducted by physical therapists with specialized training in vestibular rehabilitation. It is highly effective in reducing symptoms and improving function for individuals with various vestibular disorders, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and post-concussion syndrome, among others. The goal of vestibular therapy is to optimize balance and functional abilities, ultimately enhancing the individual’s overall quality of life.