As many as 76 million Americans will experience dizziness, vertigo or loss of balance at some time during their lives. Poor balance and a fear of falling can keep patients from being active, resulting in a wide range of health concerns.

The Vestibular system is a part of the inner ear that helps control balance, your sense of position, and the ability to focus while moving your head. If the function of the inner ear is altered due to injury or other dysfunction, it can affect your ability to balance, walk, and focus.

What is vestibular therapy?

Our therapists will evaluate each patient, including functional and positional testing, to develop an individualized treatment plan, which may include:

• Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers – A treatment for BPPV, in which the therapist moves the calcium carbonate crystals out of the semicircular canals to relieve vertigo symptoms.
• Balance retraining and postural control strategies – helps the patient restore balance, position sense, and function.
• Gaze Stabilization Exercises – Helps retrain stable vision during head movement.
• Habituation Exercises – Helps decrease dizziness and motion sensitivity by challenging the system.

What conditions will benefit from vestibular rehabiliation?

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – caused by calcium crystals floating in the inner ear.
• Cervicogenic Dizziness – dizziness or vertigo due to neck postures or disorders.
• Vestibular Hypofunction – caused by a vestibular weakness.
• Labyrinthitis – inflammation of the inner ear.
• Meniere’s Disease – over accumulation of fluid in the inner ear that causes attacks of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
• Drug–Induced Ototoxicity – damage to the inner ear due to drug side effects.
• Migrainous Vertigo – symptoms associated with migraine headaches.

At Kitsap Physical Therapy and Sports Clinics we offer specifically trained and skilled staff to address balance and vestibular concerns. Please schedule with one of our therapists below.