Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy designed to reduce dizziness, improve balance, and help the brain adapt to dysfunction in the vestibular system. It is delivered by trained therapists and is typically coordinated following a vestibular assessment by an audiologist or physician.
The foundation of vestibular rehabilitation is a process called central compensation, in which the brain learns to rely more on visual and proprioceptive input (signals from muscles and joints) to compensate for reduced or inaccurate vestibular input. Exercises typically include gaze stabilization tasks (holding a visual target steady while moving the head), balance training on varying surfaces, and habituation exercises that gradually reduce sensitivity to specific head movements that provoke symptoms.
Vestibular rehabilitation has strong evidence supporting its effectiveness for conditions including BPPV (after repositioning maneuvers), vestibular neuritis, unilateral vestibular loss, and some presentations of Meniere's disease. In Canada, vestibular rehabilitation may be provided through audiology clinics, physiotherapy practices, or hospital-based vestibular programs.
