Vestibular Rehabilitation

The feeling of dizziness, unsteadiness, or disorientation can interfere with everyday life and increase the risk of falls and injury. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a specialized form of physical therapy designed to reduce these symptoms, improve balance, and restore safe mobility.

What is Vestibular Therapy?

Vestibular therapy focuses on the inner ear, brain, and balance systems that control stability. A physical therapist designs specific, individualized exercises to retrain the vestibular system, improve coordination, and reduce dizziness.

The primary goals of vestibular therapy are:

To decrease dizziness and visual disturbance
To improve balance and mobility

To reduce fall risk and restore independence

What Conditions Does Vestibular Therapy Treat?

Vestibular rehabilitation can address a wide range of conditions, including:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Vestibular Neuritis / Labyrinthitis
Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (UVH)
Vestibular Migraine
Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS)
Cervicogenic Dizziness
Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS)
Recurrent Vestibulopathy
Central Vestibular Disorders
Stroke
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Meniere’s Disease
Migraines with Vestibular Involvement
Acoustic Neuroma
Cerebellar Degeneration

Age-Related Multisensory Balance Deficits

How Vestibular Therapy Works

Vestibular rehabilitation programs are tailored to each individual, but common components include:

Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers (for BPPV)
Balance Training to strengthen stability and coordination
Gaze Stabilization Exercises to improve vision and reduce motion sensitivity
Habituation Exercises to decrease dizziness through controlled movement exposure

Treatment is progressive, starting with controlled exercises and advancing to functional, real-world activities that restore safe mobility.