Vestibular Therapy

What is the vestibular system?

The vestibular system is a sensory system in the inner ear that is responsible for providing our brain with information about the movement of the body, head position and orientation of the body relative to our surroundings. This system works in coordination with the eyes, muscles and joints to allow us to move and function normally.

How do problems with the vestibular system occur?

Problems with the vestibular system occur when there is an error or mismatch in the information coming into the brain from the sensory systems involved. For example, your vestibular system is telling your brain that your head is moving but your eyes are telling your brain that you are standing still. This can cause any of the symptoms listed below.

What are some symptoms of a dysfunctional vestibular system?

People can experience dizziness, vertigo (sensation of the room spinning), nausea, blurry vision, lightheadedness, unsteadiness, hearing loss, ringing in ears, headaches and a wide range of other symptoms. These symptoms can be distressing and can cause drastic changes to your ability to function normally.

What are some causes of vestibular system disorders?

One cause of vestibular system issues can occur when components of the inner ear apparatus which normally are stationary begin to move and float around in the surrounding inner ear canals. This causes abnormal excitation of the sensory nerves in the vestibular system. This condition is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). There is often no specific cause for the onset of this condition but older adults (age 50+) seem to be more affected. Some other possible causes include bacterial or viral infections of the inner ear, concussion, build-up of fluid in the inner ear, poor circulation and neck pain or stiffness.

What is vestibular rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation is a method used to help alleviate the symptoms of vestibular system disorders. Your specially trained therapist will assess the cause of your condition and discuss an appropriate treatment plan with you. Vestibular rehabilitation includes manual therapy techniques (hands-on methods) and a series of specific exercises to retrain your brain and vestibular system to start functioning normally again.

If you have any questions about vestibular therapy please contact our office.