Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physical therapy that aims to alleviate or improve problems related to many vestibular (inner ear/balance) disorders. Common symptoms include vertigo, dizziness, imbalance, frequent falls, visual disturbances, headaches, and motion sensitivity.
Individualized exercises are used to address these problems in order to reduce symptoms of vertigo or dizziness, increase stability while walking in different environments, reduce risk of falls, stabilize gaze and vision, and improve sensitivity to head or body movements. Repositioning maneuvers, such as the Epley maneuver, are also used to treat a common vestibular
disorder called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV.
This condition causes a sudden but short-lasting sensation of spinning that occurs when a person abruptly moves the head or quickly changes directions. The goals of vestibular therapy are to help you get back to your daily activities, reduce your risk of falling, and improve your quality of life. Your physician can write you a prescription to get evaluated and treated by a physical therapist at Heritage Valley Rehab Kennedy.
Therapist:
Gina Richardson, PT, DPT – grichardson@hvhs.org