We offer a comprehensive evaluation and treatment of balance and vestibular disorders by trained Physical Therapists.  If you have complaints of dizziness, imbalance, or frequent falls, therapy may be able to assist in relieving or eliminating these complaints.

Common Symptoms Associated with Balance/Vestibular Disorders:

People with vestibular impairments can often complain of dizziness, vertigo (false sense of rotation), imbalance (unsteadiness), nausea/vomiting, and hearing loss.  These symptoms often make people afraid to move or change head positions for fear of falling or becoming dizzy.  People may stop completing activities they previously enjoyed and these symptoms can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle.

Causes of Dizziness:

Dizziness can be caused by problems with the inner ear (peripheral vestibular disorders) and/or the neurological system (central vestibular disorders).

Common Peripheral Vestibular Disorders:

• Vestibular Neuritis: viral infection or ischemia to the vestibular nerve
• Labyrinthitis: viral or bacterial infection to the labyrinth of the inner ear
• Meniere’s Disease: recurrent spontaneous attacks of tinnitus (ringing in ears), vertigo, nausea, and imbalance
• Acoustic Neuroma: tumor on the VIIIth (vestibular-cochlear) cranial nerve.
• Ototoxic Medications: destruction of the vestibular system by certain medications
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): vertigo (sensation of spinning or rotation) caused by change in position

Common Central Vestibular Disorders

• Multiple Sclerosis
• CVA or Stroke
• Parkinson’s Disease

Conditions that could warrant Balance/Vestibular Rehabilitation

If you have been diagnosed with or exhibit any of these conditions, you may benefit from Balance/Vestibular Rehabilitation.

• History of frequent falls within the last six months
• Lightheadedness or imbalance
• Vertigo (spinning sensation) with or without nausea
• Difficulty walking in visually busy environments (such as the grocery store or mall), in poor lighting, and/or on uneven surfaces
• Head trauma or Injury
• Peripheral vestibular disorders such as vestibular neuritis, Labyrinthitis, Acoustic Neuroma
• Neurological conditions such as MS, Parkinson’s disease, CVA

Treatments associated with Balance/Vestibular Rehabilitation

Once you have obtained a prescription from your physician, you will be evaluated by a Physical Therapist who has received specialized training in Vestibular Rehabilitation.  They will help determine factors that are contributing to your balance and dizziness problems. After the evaluation, the Physical Therapist will determine an individualized plan of care with your physician and begin treatment as indicated.  Some treatments offered by our program include:

• Canalith Repositioning Maneuver for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• Balance Assessment & Balance Re-training Exercises
• Vestibular Habituation and Adaptation Exercises
• Education on Fall Prevention and use of appropriate assistive devices

Our vestibular rehabilitation services are available at our Johnson City, New York location Monday through Friday 8:30am through 5:00pm.

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