Vestibular Therapy

What is vestibular therapy?

Vestibular therapy is specialized physical therapy for dizziness, vertigo, motion sensitivity, balance problems, and unsteadiness. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear and connected to the brain, helps control balance, eye movement, and spatial orientation. When that system is irritated or not working well with the eyes, muscles, and joints, everyday movement can feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

Vestibular symptoms can show up in different ways. Some people feel spinning when they roll in bed. Others feel off-balance while walking, dizzy in busy environments, unsteady when turning, or nauseated with head movement. A physical therapy evaluation helps identify what may be contributing to symptoms and what exercises or maneuvers may be appropriate.

At Mountain Town Rehab, vestibular therapy focuses on reducing dizziness, improving balance, and helping you move through daily life with more confidence.

Who benefits from vestibular therapy?

Vestibular therapy may help people with:

• Vertigo or spinning sensations
• Dizziness with head movement
• Balance problems or unsteadiness
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, often called BPPV
• Motion sensitivity
• Gaze instability or trouble focusing while moving
• Fall risk related to balance changes
• Dizziness after concussion or illness when therapy is appropriate
• Fear of movement due to dizziness

Some symptoms, such as sudden severe dizziness, new weakness, facial drooping, chest pain, severe headache, or trouble speaking, need urgent medical evaluation.

What to expect during treatment

Your therapist will ask about your symptoms, triggers, medical history, falls, medications, and daily challenges. The evaluation may include balance testing, walking observation, eye and head movement testing, positional testing, and screening for other factors that may affect dizziness.

Treatment may include repositioning maneuvers for certain types of vertigo, gaze stabilization exercises, balance training, walking drills, gradual exposure to movement triggers, strengthening, and a home program. Exercises are chosen carefully because the right amount of symptom provocation can help the system adapt, while too much can feel overwhelming.

Your therapist will explain what to expect, how to practice at home, and when symptoms should be reassessed.

Why choose Mountain Town Rehab for vestibular therapy?

Mountain Town Rehab provides vestibular therapy in a calm, one-on-one setting. Dizziness can be unsettling, so we take time to listen, test carefully, and explain the plan in plain language.

Our team understands balance, gait, neurologic rehab, orthopedic issues, and the way dizziness can affect confidence. We help you work toward safer movement, fewer limitations, and better control in the activities that matter to you.

Vestibular therapy FAQs