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Our body has this amazing system that helps you keep your balance called the “vestibular system”. It is like your internal GPS that detects where your head is in space.
It’s located in your inner ears and works with your eyes and body to keep you steady and prevent you from feeling dizzy.
Sometimes, this system can have problems, and one might get wobbly. When there’s a problem with the vestibular system, it’s called vestibular symptom.
Vertigo is a common vestibular symptom that makes you feel like you or your surroundings are spinning or moving, even when they’re not. It’s caused by issues in the inner ear or the brain, disrupting your balance and making you feel off-balance, as if you might fall.
The most common vestibular and balance disorders include:
At the Hobson Institute, our therapists are able to evaluate and treat BPPV, or address imbalances within the vestibular system to reduce symptoms. Our treatments are based on current research and individualized for the patient and their symptoms. Vestibular pathology is treated through customized protocols of habituation, substitution, and or adaptation exercises. The protocol is determined through the results of vestibular testing at the initial evaluation. The goal of vestibular rehabilitation is to reduce symptoms, improve balance, and enhance the brain’s ability to process vestibular signals effectively. Most patients experience an average of 85–100% improvement in symptoms.
A patient will be sitting for most of the evaluation and the therapist examines the patient’s eyes and ability to focus on a target. In addition, functional balance testing is performed which can involve some standing and walking, but first determined by the patient’s fall risk. These tests, supported by clinical research, help the physical therapist determine the factors contributing to the symptoms, including:
