Vestibular Rehabilitation

What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialised form of physiotherapy developed to treat patents suffering from balance problems, dizziness and vertigo. The treatment is exercise based and has been proven to facilitate central nervous system compensation.

Vestibular Rehabilitation is effective in reducing, vertigo, dizziness, falls and improving quality of life for people with balance disorders.

Do I need vestibular rehabilitation?

Balance problems often cause significant physical and psychological problems and can affect all activities of daily living. Simple tasks such as walking to the shops, negotiating the stairs, or using the computer, become quite challenging.

Some common symptoms that you maybe experiencing are:

Dizziness
Vertigo (a sensation of you or your environment moving)
Imbalance
Falls
Feeling unsteady like you are on a boat
Nausea and vomiting
Feeling lightheaded
Muzzy headed
Loss of ability to focus
Feeling of “catch up” with head movement

If you are suffering from any of these symptoms, an accurate diagnosis and a customised vestibular rehabilitation programme will minimise or resolve your problem and help you on the road to recovery

What is causing my imbalance and dizziness?

Many conditions cause balance dysfunction and some of the most common conditions that we treat are:

- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – tiny crystals inside the balance organs become loose, which triggers brief attacks of vertigo precipitated by head movement.
- Ménière’s disease – an abnormality of the fluid in the inner ear which can cause hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, fullness in the ear and imbalance.
- Vestibular neuritis (labyrinthitis) – a virus or infection that damages the balance organs causing vertigo, nausea, vomiting and imbalance.
- Acoustic neuroma – a rare benign tumour around the ear that may lead to hearing and balance problems.
- Migraine-related balance disorders - cause vertigo, dizziness and imbalance.
- Head injuries - can inflict damage to the balance system.
Do I need vestibular rehabilitation?

Balance problems often cause significant physical and psychological problems and can affect all activities of daily living. Simple tasks such as walking to the shops, negotiating the stairs or using the computer are often no longer simple and can become quite challenging.

Some of the common symptoms that you may experienced as a result of your balance disorder are:

Dizziness
Vertigo (a sensation of you or your environment moving)
Imbalance
Falls
Feeling unsteady like you are on a boat
Nausea and vomiting
Feeling lightheaded
Muzzy headed
Loss of ability to focus
Feeling of catch up with head movement

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms then an accurate diagnosis and customised vestibular rehabilitation will often lessen or resolve your symptoms and help you the road to recovery

How We Can Help
What will happen at my appointment?

We will take a detailed history, focusing on how your symptoms are affecting your daily living.

Then, we will carry out a thorough examination focusing on:

Eye and head movements
Your balance standing and walking
Positional tests

This examination assists us in diagnosing your problem and developing an exercise programme to resolve your condition.
What will the exercise program include?

The exercises may be as simple as eye movements and head movements but will also include balance exercises that will improve your stability, physical condition and confidence.

You may also be given lifestyle and dietary advice.

If you are suffering from a migraine related balance disorder you may need medication and we will work closely with the Consultant, ensuring that rehabilitation will be effective.

BPPV, is treated with repositioning manoeuvres such as the Epley’s manoeuvre.

You will be advised to practice your exercises regularly at home.

Nicola and her experience

Nicola Harris is a Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and is one of the leading providers of vestibular rehabilitation in the United Kingdom.

In 2003, Nicola established a London-based private practice treating balance problems and dizziness. A part of her practice is Nicola’s medico-legal case work.

She is a member of a Multidisciplinary Team for an NHS Regional Balance Centre in the Southeast.

Arrange a consultation with us

Although we cannot guarantee by how much or how quickly you or any particular patient improves with treatment, the following results should give you some idea:

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