What Is Vestibular Rehabilitation, and How Does It Help with Vertigo?

If you suffer from vertigo, you are not alone. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 40 percent of adults suffer from vertigo at least once in their lives. The good news is that there are treatments available that can help. One such treatment is vestibular rehabilitation or vestibular physical therapy. Here's what you need to know.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation of spinning or moving even when you are still. The attacks can last just a few seconds or for several minutes. Vertigo can be caused by a problem with your inner ear or the nerves connecting your inner ear to your brain.

What causes vertigo?

There are many possible causes of vertigo, including:

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This is the most common type of vertigo and is caused by a problem with the inner ear.
• Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis. These conditions are caused by inflammation in the inner ear or the nerves connecting the inner ear to the brain.
• Meniere's disease. This disorder of the inner ear can cause vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
• Migraine headaches. Some people with migraines experience vertigo as a symptom of their headaches.

Additionally, vertigo can be caused by a head injury, certain medications, or a problem with the brain, such as a stroke.

What is vestibular rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation, sometimes called vertigo rehabilitation, is a type of physical therapy that helps patients with vertigo by retraining the brain to better process information from the inner ear — the part of the ear responsible for balance and spatial awareness. The goals of vestibular rehabilitation are to reduce dizziness, improve balance, and prevent falls.

How does vestibular rehabilitation work?

Vestibular rehabilitation typically consists of exercises specifically designed to retrain the brain to better process information from the inner ear. Gaze stabilization is a common exercise used in vestibular rehabilitation. It involves training your eyes to move in coordination with your head so that you can keep your vision stable when moving your head, which is often difficult for those with vertigo. Other exercises used in vestibular rehabilitation focus on balance training or strengthening the muscles around your hips and trunk to improve your overall stability. 

If you're one of the millions of people who suffer from vertigo, there's hope. Through vestibular rehabilitation, you can retrain your brain to better process information from your inner ear, reduce dizziness, improve balance, and prevent falls. Ask your doctor about the possibility of vestibular rehabilitation as a treatment option for vertigo.