*New
For most of us, feeling dizzy or off-balance only happens when we’ve overindulged in our favorite drink. But for those with Vestibular Disorders, these symptoms can be a frequent, often debilitating, occurrence.​
- As many as 35% of Americans over 40 have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction
- 80% of Americans over age 65 have experienced dizziness​
What is the Vestibular System?
Your vestibular system is composed of three canals and two sacs filled with fluid. The fluid shifts when you turn your head or change positions and stimulates hair cell receptors to tell the brain what’s happening. The brain then uses this information to maintain balance and help the eyes stay focused. Problems in the vestibular system can be caused by how/when the receptors fire or by problems with the nerves that transmit this message to the brain.​
Who Can Benefit from Vestibular Therapy?
At Balanced Physical Therapy, we treat a variety of Vestibular Disorders that can make you feel dizzy or off balance, affecting the quality of your everyday life. Conditions treated may include:
- Dizziness  or Vertigo
- General balance deficits
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Meniere’s disease
- Concussion/post-concussion syndrome
- Migraines and other Headaches
- Labrynthitis
- Acoustic neuroma
- Neuronitis
- Ramsey-Hunt Syndrome
- Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
- Unilateral & bilateral vestibular hypofunction
- Cerebellar degeneration and age-related multisensory deficits​
How Does Vestibular Therapy Work?
Vestibular Therapy programs are customized by Certified Vestibular Therapists to meet individual patient needs. Treatments for BPPV may include the following maneuvers, depending on which canal is affected:
- Epley
- Modified Epley
- Semont
- Casani
- Appiani
- Lempert(BBQ)​
Vestibular Therapy exercises may include:
- Gaze stabilization training
- Balance retraining
- Postural retraining
- Vestibular-occipital reflex
- Gait training