What is Vestibular Therapy? Understanding Its Role in Relieving Dizziness and Vertigo

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Home » What is Vestibular Therapy? Understanding Its Role in Relieving Dizziness and Vertigo
Leaside Sports Medicine
Matthew Chin-Yee helping with vestibular physiotherapy tests

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a specialized physical therapy designed to address disorders in the vestibular system—a network of structures in the inner ear that help us maintain balance and spatial awareness. When things go wrong with the vestibular system, symptoms like dizziness and vertigo can manifest, increasing the risk of falls, injuries, and secondary issues such as nausea and fatigue.

Through targeted treatment modalities and exercises tailored to each individual’s specific needs, vestibular therapy aims to relieve these symptoms. VRT is an evidence-based intervention that can significantly improve the quality of life of patients who struggle with these issues—even when medication and other treatments have not been successful in the past.

Leaside Sports Medicine offers vestibular physiotherapy at our clinic in Toronto for patients with a wide range of vestibular disorders, including:

  • Vertigo and dizziness
  • Balance disorders
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • And more

Understanding the Vestibular System

The vestibular system is a complex network of structures within the inner ear that work with our visual system, muscles, and joints to maintain balance and orient us among our surroundings. It is made up of three semicircular canals and two otolith organs in each ear.

These delicate components detect gravity and rotational head movements and send this information to the brain, where it is combined with other sensory inputs. The result is the ability to instinctively maintain our balance, stabilize our gaze, and navigate through our environment.

When issues arise in the vestibular system, it can significantly impact daily activities, often leading to reduced social engagement, sedentary behaviour, and additional complications such as joint stiffness, muscle weakness, and even anxiety or depression. This is why addressing vestibular issues early and finding a personalized treatment approach is essential.

Who Can Benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy?

Vestibular rehabilitation can help with various conditions, though a professional evaluation is essential to ensure it’s right for you. Conditions we commonly treat at Leaside Sports Medicine include:

  • Meniere’s disease
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • Vertigo
  • Balance disorders
  • Motion sensitivities

Common symptoms that could be indicative of one or more of these vestibular disorders include:

  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision
  • Balance problems

These symptoms could be constant for some individuals or come and go for others. They can also vary in intensity from mild to severe or worsen over time. Whatever the case may be, if they are interfering with your ability to go about your daily life, you should seek to address them as soon as possible.

Our commitment to collaborative care practices at Leaside Sports Medicine means that once you have been assessed, our physical therapists will work with you to develop a comprehensive therapy package that addresses your unique set of challenges.

How Vestibular Therapy Works at Leaside Sports Medicine

Reducing the effects of vestibular disorders can help you regain control of your life, whether it’s for work, family, social activities, or hobbies. Here’s what you can expect from vestibular therapy at our clinic:

Comprehensive Assessment

Our initial assessment involves a thorough consultation and specialized tests to evaluate your symptoms and determine if VRT is suitable for you. This information guides a personalized rehabilitation plan.

Customized Treatment Plans

  1. Prescribed exercises: We design a program with vestibular exercises to reduce dizziness, improve balance, and restore normal function.
  2. In-clinic and home exercises: Sessions may include balance retraining, gaze stabilization, and habituation exercises.
  3. Manual therapy: Techniques like repositioning maneuvers, joint mobilizations, and soft tissue therapy contribute to recovery.

Our sports medicine physiotherapists Matthew-Chin Yee and Valerie Hawke, bring decades of experience to create an effective, custom treatment program for each patient.

Benefits of Vestibular Therapy

Outcomes will always vary depending on the individual, but there are a wide range of benefits that can be gained from sticking to a vestibular rehabilitation therapy program:

  • Reduced dizziness/vertigo
  • Improved balance and mobility
  • Improved gaze stability
  • Decreased nausea and motion sensitivity
  • Increased activity levels
  • Improved emotional outlook and mental wellness

The timeline for achieving these benefits can differ between patients, but it is common to begin noticing improvements after just a few sessions with a qualified physiotherapist who is experienced with vestibular rehabilitation therapy work.

Long-Term Management

After an initial intensive phase of in-clinic and at-home therapies, maintaining your progress may require ongoing exercises, regular check-ups, and lifestyle adjustments. Staying engaged with these practices can help sustain your recovery over the long term.

Book An Appointment at Leaside Sports Medicine

If you think vestibular rehabilitation therapy could help relieve the symptoms you are experiencing, we would love to hear from you. Our sports medicine team is ready to work with you to formulate a treatment plan that will combat your unique set of challenges.

Book your vestibular therapy consultation at Leaside Sports Medicine today!

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