Vestibular Rehabilitation

What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program designed by a trained physical therapist to improve balance and reduce or eliminate dizziness-related problems and symptoms.

Who can Benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Patients with:

• Vertigo
• Dizziness or imbalance
• Spinning sensation
• Meniere's Disease
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Brain injury/Post-concussive syndrome
• Frequent falls

Treatments 

Vestibular rehabilitation, performed by a specially-trained physical therapist, utilizes a customized exercise program that often includes habituation, gaze stabilization and/or balance training. In addition, Nashoba Valley Medical Center is one of the region's only programs to utilize infrared video goggles for diagnosis and treatment. For most patients, this form of therapy can produce drastic symptom reduction in one- to-two visits. Learn more here.

What are the Expected Outcomes of Vestibular Rehabilitation?

• Decreased fall risk
• Decreased dizziness symptoms
• Improved balance
• Improved ability to stabilize vision and gaze
• Increased body strength
• Return to prior levels of function and movement
• Increased confidence in ability to maintain balance
• Improved neck motion with reduced symptoms

Many times, just a few vestibular rehabilitation therapy sessions are needed. If patients continue to perform the exercises they have learned, balance and dizziness problems can significantly decrease or disappear.