Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based therapy for balance and dizziness disorders such as vertigo, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, and Meniere’s disease. It can also be used in the treatment of concussions. Vestibular rehabilitation aims to reduce symptoms and improve functional abilities by retraining the brain to compensate for vestibular deficits.

Vestibular rehabilitation is a therapy program to help people with balance, dizziness, and motion-sensitivity difficulties resulting from damage or illness. The therapy aims to improve mobility and reduce the risk of falls by retraining the central nervous system to recognize and adequately process signals from the inner ear, eyes, muscles, and joints. Benefits of vestibular rehabilitation include:

1. Increased balance and stability: With the help of a trained physical therapist, a person can relearn how to coordinate the body’s movement with visual and head movements through vestibular exercises. This helps patients to feel more secure during activities such as walking or standing up from a seated position.
2. Improved coordination: Vestibular rehabilitation can help to improve the patient’s ability to coordinate their body movements with visual information, reducing dizziness and unsteadiness related to inner ear disorders.
3. Reduced fear of falling: Some patients fear standing up or walking due to inner ear disorder. Through vestibular rehabilitation, patients learn how to control their balance and become more confident about everyday activities.
4. Improved quality of life: Vestibular rehabilitation helps those suffering from inner ear disorders live a better quality of life by allowing them to regain the ability to perform everyday tasks quickly and confidently. Improved physical and mental well-being can improve quality of life, even with ongoing inner ear disorder symptoms.
5. Reduce dependence on medications: Vestibular rehabilitation can help reduce the need for certain drugs sometimes used to treat inner ear disorders. Through exercises and activities, vestibular rehabilitation helps patients manage their symptoms without relying on medications. This can lead to improved overall health, as well as cost savings.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is effective in treating a variety of vestibular disorders, including:
– Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
– Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis
– Concussion/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)
– Meniere’s Disease
– Perilymph Fistuals
– Post-surgical vestibular deficits
– Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
– Central Positional Vertigo
– Vestibular Migraines

VRT (Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy) can also benefit patients with dizziness or balance issues related to aging, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, psychogenic dizziness, and more. By using a combination of balance retraining exercises and lifestyle modifications (such as avoiding specific eye movements or activities that can trigger symptoms), the vestibular system can be trained to compensate for deficits to improve balance and reduce dizziness.

Vestibular rehabilitation can typically take several weeks to months to work. The length of time varies depending on the severity and type of condition treated and the individual’s response to treatment. For some people, vestibular rehabilitation can help reduce symptoms within days or weeks of starting treatment.

In general, however, achieving the desired goals takes a few weeks or months. Staying consistent with your therapy plan and following the prescribed exercises to maximize the treatment’s effectiveness is important. In some cases, multiple vestibular rehabilitation rounds may be needed to resolve symptoms fully. Additionally, lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding strenuous activities, may be necessary to avoid aggravating vestibular symptoms.

The answer to this question depends on your insurance plan and provider. Generally, if you have a physical therapy benefit, Vestibular Rehabilitation is often covered by the same use. It is best to contact your insurance company directly to determine if they will cover the cost of treatment.
Sometimes, you may be required to get a referral from your doctor before receiving Vestibular Rehabilitation treatment. It is also essential to remember that some insurance providers may require preauthorization before treatment. It is always best to check with your insurance provider directly to understand their specific policy requirements for coverage of these services.