Vestibular Rehabilitation

Do you often feel dizzy or off-balance? Vestibular rehabilitation can help. Keep reading to learn how it works and what to expect.

Frequently experiencing vertigo, dizziness, and balance issues can lead to other problems like nausea, lightheadedness, and falling. Falls due to balance disorders can lead to injuries, which make balance problems an even greater threat to your well-being.

No matter their cause, you can improve dizziness and balance problems with a form of neurorehabilitation called vestibular rehabilitation therapy. Our multidisciplinary team at Delaware NeuroRehab in Dover, Lewes, and Newark, Delaware, coaches you through personalized vestibular rehabilitation to help you regain your balance and feel better.

Are you curious how vestibular rehabilitation therapy improves balance issues? In this article, we’ll discuss how vestibular rehabilitation works and when it can help.

When to consider vestibular rehabilitation

Dizziness and balance problems often stem from problems with the vestibular system, which is located in your inner ear.

This network of canals and structures helps you maintain a sense of balance and orientation. It works closely with your nerves, muscles, and brain to keep you upright.

Many conditions can affect the vestibular system and cause balance issues or dizziness as a result. Our team at Delaware NeuroRehab might recommend vestibular rehabilitation for:

Migraine headaches
Vertigo
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Stroke
Meniere’s disease

Vestibular rehabilitation is especially important if you’re at risk of falling or if you experience complications from vestibular problems like fatigue or frequent headaches.

Goals of vestibular rehabilitation

Our team works closely with you to understand your specific needs in vestibular rehabilitation. They evaluate your balance problems and can help you work on:

Strengthening your muscles
Controlling your eye movements
Re-establishing your sense of balance while standing still
Re-establishing your sense of balance while moving
Reducing your motion sensitivity
Improving your gait
Reducing symptoms like dizziness and headaches

Based on your needs, our team might recommend other neurorehabilitation services alongside vestibular rehabilitation in an individualized treatment program. Our team specializes in occupational therapy, physical therapy, pain management, and more.

How vestibular rehabilitation works

The team teaches you various exercises to retrain the systems involved in your balance. You learn and perform these exercises in the office, then practice them at home between visits. Your personalized program might include eye movement exercises, head movement exercises, or body balancing exercises.

Some exercises in vestibular rehabilitation might involve equipment such as foam pads for your safety or infrared goggles to record your eye movements. These tools can help support or track your progress in improving your balance.

In most cases, you can expect to see a substantial improvement after 6-8 weeks of dedicated vestibular rehabilitation therapy, with one or two visits per week. However, everyone is different, and your program may be longer or shorter in duration.

Our team tracks your progress closely to ensure your program meets your needs.

How to learn more

If you experience frequent issues with balance, dizziness, or vertigo, get in touch with Delaware NeuroRehab for a vestibular rehabilitation consultation. Call the office or request an appointment online today.