Do you experience dizziness, headaches, imbalance? Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) can help improve your quality of life!
Do you frequently experience symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, headaches, nausea, or lightheadedness? These symptoms may be caused by one of many conditions that affect the vestibular system such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular hypofunction, vestibular neuritis, migraine headache, post-concussion syndrome, cervicogenic dizziness, or neurological conditions such as stroke or traumatic brain injury. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy may be the solution to treat these conditions! Studies show people with balance issues who have VRT have improved balance, less dizziness and reduce their risk of falling.
What is Vestibular Therapy?
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy involves exercises that help you manage dizziness and balance issues (imbalance). VRT takes time, but it can improve your quality of life.
What happens before I start vestibular rehabilitation therapy?
Our trained physical therapists will perform an evaluation to assess for the cause of your symptoms, including an examination of your gait, balance, strength, and endurance. They will then create a treatment plan specific to you and your needs with activities that may include movements in various positions to re-train your vestibular system, exercises working on eye movement control and gaze stability, strengthening exercises, and balance retraining.
What happens during therapy?
We will show you how to do specific exercises so you can do them at home, at your convenience. Therapy may include these exercises:
- Eye movement control.
- Balance retraining.
- Stretching and strengthening.
How long is a typical vestibular rehabilitation program?
That depends on your situation. How much therapy you’ll need depends on why you have dizziness or balance issues and how you respond to therapy. Most people have six to eight weekly sessions. Some people may only need one or two sessions. Other people may need several months of ongoing treatment, including doing exercises on their own.
In general, most people who continue doing their exercises after their treatment program is over have significantly fewer issues with dizziness and balance.
Contact us
If you feel Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy may benefit you, please give our office a call. We have trained Physical Therapists in Dubuque, IA and Lancaster, WI. Call our office at 563-583-4003 or email us at frontdesk@unifiedtherapy.com
Paige Hentrich, PT, DPT, ATC, is a Physical Therapist with Unified Therapy Services and Head of Department. Paige graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Athletic Training and Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Clarke University. She treats patients with a variety of conditions, illnesses, or injuries and also specializes in adult pelvic floor therapy.
Sources: Paige Hentrich, PT, DPT, ATC, and clevelandclinic.org