What treatments does vestibular therapy involve?

Vestibular disorders typically develop as a result of an inner ear imbalance that affects the vestibular system, which is the body’s natural mechanism for maintaining balance. When this happens, your head has difficulty orienting itself, which leads to debilitating symptoms including vertigo, dizziness, headaches and nausea. Vestibular disorders can have a significant negative impact on your quality of life, but fortunately there are effective treatments. 

According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, vestibular therapy is an evidence-based approach that has been shown to improve symptoms related to vestibular disorders. If you’re tired of letting vertigo and related problems run your life and are interested in learning more about what vestibular therapy involves, we’ve prepared the following guide. 

Typical vestibular therapy treatments

When you first meet with a physical therapist who has been trained to provide vestibular therapy, the first step will be an evaluation to test factors including balance and stability and to better gauge your current state of health. This will allow your therapist to get a better idea of the types of treatments that can potentially work best for you.

Some of the most common types of vestibular therapy treatments include: 

• Habituation exercises — These types of movements can be helpful for patients who experience dizziness. By learning to compensate for motions that cause disorientation, patients can better overcome dizzy spells. 
• Gaze stabilization — This type of training helps patients better control eye movements and focus on a fixed point to manage dizziness and vertigo related to vestibular disorders. 
• Balance training — Working with a therapist to improve overall stability and balance through targeted exercises can lead to significant improvement in the severity and frequency of dizzy spells. 

Vestibular therapy is generally performed in an outpatient setting such as a physical therapy clinic. To get the most out of your treatment, you should look for an experienced therapist who can provide individualized one-on-one care. 

Vestibular therapy at SSOR

At Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation, our highly skilled and caring team has years of combined experience in providing effective vestibular therapy. We’ll work with you individually to help you better understand your condition and the effective treatment options so we can design a plan that is right for you. 

Are you ready to take control of dizziness, vertigo and other symptoms of vestibular disorders? Contact us today to schedule your initial appointment.