What is vestibular rehabilitation?

If you’re experiencing ongoing dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance, you’re not alone—and there is a proven path to recovery. At PMC Physiotherapy, our expert vestibular rehabilitation physio Lee Chambers use a targeted form of physiotherapy, to help patients regain stability, confidence, and control. In this blog, we explore what vestibular rehabilitation involves, how it works, and why it can be life-changing for those affected by vestibular disorders.

Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialised form of physiotherapy aiming to alleviate symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness and imbalance that are caused by a vestibular disorder. It takes the form of an individualised exercise programme. In the case of BPPV, it takes the form of a specific manoeuvre. This is discussed more in a separate blog post.

The exercise programmes are designed by your vestibular physiotherapist and are based on the findings from the assessment. I like to design my exercise programmes so that they are very specific to what the patient is having difficulty with or are looking to get back to so I am guided a lot by what the patient tells me at each appointment.

The aims of the exercises are to improve vestibular function and promote compensation- where the brain learns to use other senses to substitute for any deficiencies in the vestibular system. For some people, this occurs naturally over time. However, some people do not and their symptoms persist and they continue to have difficulty returning to normal function.

Exercises may include habituation exercises, gaze stabilisation exercises or balance exercises. The habituation exercises are designed to reduce symptoms through repeated exposure to various stimuli that provoke their symptoms. Gaze stabilisation exercises are used to improve the control of eye movements while the head is moving so that the patients vision remains clear and stable. Balance exercises can be static, for example standing with feet together and eyes closed, or they could be dynamic, for example, walking with one foot in front of the other.

There is very strong evidence the vestibular rehabilitation can be effective in improving symptoms and dysfunction related to many vestibular disorders (1,2).

Vestibular disorders can significantly impact your quality of life, but effective treatment is available. If you’re struggling with symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision with movement, or unsteadiness, our specialist vestibular physiotherapists can provide a personalised assessment and exercise programme tailored to your needs. Book an appointment today and take the first step toward improved balance, clearer vision, and a more confident return to daily activities.

References:

(1) McDonnell MN, Hillier SL. Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 1.
(2) Herdman SJ. Vestibular rehabilitation. Curr Opin Neurol; 2013:26:96-101