Vestibular Rehabilitation
Our specialized vestibular rehabilitation may help reduce dizziness and improve balance through personalized exercises and expert care, promoting lasting stability and confidence.
Vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation is designed to help people who live with dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems regain confidence and control in their daily lives. Through a specialized, exercise‑based program, our therapists work with you to retrain the way your brain, inner ear, eyes, and body work together, so you can move more comfortably and reduce your risk of falling.
What is vestibular rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a type of physical therapy focusing on problems caused by the vestibular system, the part of the inner ear and brain that controls balance and eye movements. When this system is not working correctly, you might experience spinning sensations, unsteadiness, motion sensitivity, or blurred vision when you move your head. Targeted VRT exercises help your central nervous system adapt to these changes and improve how your eyes and head work together.
Our vestibular rehabilitation is provided by physical therapists with advanced training in the evaluation and treatment of dizziness and balance disorders. Your therapist creates a personalized program with exercises to improve your balance and eye movement, including gentle activities that help your body adapt to movements that cause symptoms.
Conditions treated with vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation can help a wide range of conditions that cause dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance. Common conditions our therapists treat include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): One of the most common vestibular disorders, BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear move into the semicircular canals, causing brief episodes of spinning when you roll over in bed or change head positions. Hands‑on repositioning maneuvers performed by your therapist can move these crystals back where they belong and often relieve symptoms quickly.
- Central balance disorders: Central balance disorders happen when the brain, affected by issues like stroke or concussion, has trouble processing balance signals from the eyes, inner ear, and body. Vestibular rehabilitation helps improve stability and movement when used with other treatments.
- Motion sensitivity and chronic dizziness: Some people experience dizziness or disorientation in busy visual environments, while riding in a car, or when they quickly move their head. Targeted habituation exercises (a therapy technique used to reduce sensitivity to specific movements or stimuli that trigger symptoms like dizziness) can decrease these symptoms.
- Unilateral or bilateral vestibular loss: Damage to one or both inner ears, whether caused by aging, infection, medication, or other factors, can lead to chronic dizziness and unsteadiness. Exercise-based therapy improves gaze stability (the ability to maintain a steady visual focus on an object while your head is moving) and balance, allowing you to walk more safely.
- Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve or inner ear can lead to sudden, intense vertigo, followed by a lingering imbalance and increased sensitivity to motion. VRT helps your brain adapt to the changes in vestibular function over time.
Who is a good candidate for vestibular rehab?
You might benefit from a vestibular rehabilitation program if you experience:
- A feeling that your surroundings are moving or bouncing when you walk
- A history of falls or a strong fear of falling related to balance problems
- Difficulty focusing your eyes or blurred vision when moving your head
- Frequent or persistent dizziness or vertigo
- Unsteadiness when walking or standing, especially on uneven surfaces
Vestibular rehabilitation can also help people with new neurological symptoms or significant heart or blood pressure problems, but you should see your doctor first to rule out urgent conditions before starting therapy.
What to expect during treatment
When you come to us for vestibular rehabilitation, your experience begins with a detailed evaluation. Your therapist asks about your symptoms, when they started, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect your daily life. A physical examination might include tests of eye movements, head and neck motion, balance, walking, and positional testing to look for BPPV or other vestibular disorders.
Based on these findings, your therapist designs a personalized treatment plan. Common components of vestibular rehabilitation include:
Balance and gait training
Your therapist guides you through activities that challenge your balance in a safe, controlled environment. You might practice standing with your feet close together, walking on different surfaces, turning quickly, or stepping over obstacles. Over time, your therapist adapts these tasks to mimic the demands of daily life, helping you feel more stable at home, at work, and in the community.
Canalith repositioning maneuvers
If you have BPPV, your therapist might perform specific head and body movements to reposition displaced crystals in the inner ear. These maneuvers often provide rapid relief and may be repeated or modified as needed.
Habituation and motion‑sensitivity exercises
If certain head positions or movements cause dizziness, your therapist might design exercises that gradually expose you to those motions in a structured way. Repeated, controlled exposure helps the brain adapt and reduces the intensity of symptoms over time.
Gaze‑stabilization exercises
These exercises train your eyes to stay focused on a target while your head moves side to side or up and down. You might be asked to look at a letter on the wall while turning your head back and forth, gradually increasing the speed and complexity of the movement. This helps reduce the sensation that your environment is bouncing or blurry when you move.
How long does vestibular rehabilitation take?
The length of vestibular rehabilitation therapy varies depending on the underlying condition, how long you’ve had symptoms, and how consistently you perform your home exercises. Some people with BPPV feel better after just a few visits, while others with more complex conditions might need several weeks or months of therapy. In many cases, people attend one or two sessions per week while practicing their exercise program at home every day. Your therapist regularly reviews your progress and adjusts the plan as you improve.
Can I do vestibular rehab at home?
A key part of VRT is a customized home exercise program. Your therapist teaches you specific eye‑ and head‑movement drills, balance tasks, and motion‑sensitivity exercises that you can safely perform on your own. Consistent practice at home is essential for your brain to adapt and symptoms to improve.
However, it is important not to start vestibular exercises on your own without professional guidance, especially if you have a history of falls, significant dizziness, or other medical conditions. Working with a trained therapist first ensures that you learn the right exercises at the right intensity and how to do them correctly.