Vestibular Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is a specialized form of physical therapy used to treat dizziness and vertigo, and trouble with balance, posture, and vision. Despite it’s name, the vestibular system may not be the only system that is affected, or even at all. There are three main inputs that we rely on to keep us oriented:
Proprioception
Vestibular
Vision
​Our senses of posture, balance, spacial awareness and up vs. down all emerge from the organization of these signals. Symptoms will arise whenever either (1) the inputs change or (2) the brain can’t put the whole picture together. Any disorder affecting these inputs can result in symptoms that VRT can treat, including:
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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
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Menier’s Disease / Hydrops
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Labrynthitis or Acoustic Neuritis
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Concussion
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Vestibular Migraine
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Stroke
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Multiple Sclerosis
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Cortical or cerebellar degeneration
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Peripheral Neuropathy
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Physical Deconditioning
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Cervicogenic Dizziness
​It is also important to understand that the primary symptoms will often result in secondary symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, and lack of concentration. All symptoms of vestibular dysfunction can significantly decrease quality of life, introducing mental-emotional issues such as anxiety and depression, and greatly impair an individual, causing them to become more sedentary, and often isolated. Often times, a the best approach to recovery includes working with a counselor or psychologist.
The most important thing to remember is that vertigo and dizziness can be treated. Several conditions may warrant seeing a neurologist or ENT, but the evidence is clear: vestibular therapy should be at the center of any treatment plan. It is the most effective way to retrain the neural pathways needed for the brain to make sense of the world around it.