Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a therapeutical approach to deal with balance issues, dizziness caused due to vestibular dysfunction.
It is an exercise-based program to help with:
- Gaze stability.
- Postural stability.
- Vertigo.
- Balance
- Gait.
- Improving daily activities of living affected due to vestibular dysfunction.
Conditions treated:
- Vertigo.
- Post concussion related dizziness (MVA/Head injury).
- Dizziness seen in Elderly due to vestibular hypofunction.
- Psychogenic vertigo.
- Dizziness with uncertain cause.
Conditions that would not benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy:
- Meniere’s disease.
- Labyrinthine pathology.
Techniques used for Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy:
CRP / Canalith repositioning procedure: It is a technique used when a client experiences vertigo due to BPPV, also know as Benign positional vertigo. Thus, with this procedure, the therapist moves the client in a specific pattern with the head and neck supported to redirect the crystal back into its position, thereby reducing and abolishing the spinning sensation caused by BPPV. Additionally, the techniques vary depending on the canal affected. Furthermore, it might take 2-3 visits to resolve this concern, if there is no involvement of other components. A vestibular therapist can identify the side and the canal affected.
VOR exercises: This approach is for one experiencing dizziness with head movements, where the person feels difficulty stabilizing their vision. Additionally, this approach includes exercises that would help in stabilizing vision with head movements. Furthermore, these exercises are progressed by increasing the speed, complexity of exercises. It usually takes 6- 8 weeks of 2 X week sessions to see significant changes.
Habituation exercises: Exercises used for vestibular hypofunction, where there is an imbalance between both ears function. The approach is to train the vestibular system to adapt to the demand so as to gain stability. Additionally, it ideally takes 6- 8 weeks of 2 X week session to help to retrain the system to adapt.
Gait training and balance exercises: To improve postural imbalance and thereby improving ADL. A proper gait analysis and assessing the lower extremity and core strength would help the therapist decide on the exercise program that would be client specific.
Home exercise program is equally important on a frequency of 3-5 X Day to see a consistent progressive recovery.
A vestibular therapist with a detailed assessment could rule out the possible reason for the dizziness and imbalance, with VRT which is client specific and condition specific.
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