Vestibular Rehab
Dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues can affect your ability to walk, drive, or even stand still—disrupting your everyday life. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) offers a specialized, non-invasive approach to treating these symptoms by retraining the brain and body to adapt and restore balance. At Iowa Ortho, our physical therapists are trained in vestibular rehab to help patients overcome these challenges and get back to feeling steady and confident.
What Is Vestibular Rehab?
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy designed to alleviate problems caused by vestibular disorders, which affect the inner ear and balance system. VRT helps reduce dizziness, improve balance, and restore normal movement through a customized treatment plan.
Who Can Benefit?
You may benefit from vestibular rehab if you’re experiencing:
- Vertigo or spinning sensations
- Frequent dizziness or lightheadedness
- Unsteadiness or falls
- Difficulty focusing or visual disturbances
- Symptoms worsened by head movements or changing positions
Common diagnoses we treat include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis
- Meniere’s disease
- Post-concussion dizziness
- Balance deficits due to aging or neurological conditions
What to Expect During Therapy
Your therapist will perform a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms, balance, gait, and eye movements. From there, you’ll receive a personalized treatment plan that may include:
- Canalith repositioning maneuvers – Gentle movements used to treat BPPV.
- Gaze stabilization exercises – To improve control of eye movements and reduce visual blurring.
- Balance retraining – Exercises that challenge your stability and improve coordination.
- Habituation exercises – Designed to gradually reduce your response to motion or position changes.
The Iowa Ortho Difference
At Iowa Ortho, our therapists combine clinical expertise with a compassionate, patient-first approach. We:
- Tailor each program to your specific symptoms and goals
- Monitor progress closely and adjust exercises as needed
- Provide education to help you manage symptoms at home