Vestibular Imbalance

The vestibular system, made up of the parts of the inner ear and brain, processes the sensory information that controls balance and eye movements.

Vestibular disorders arise as a result of damage to this system. Visit a therapist at Redbud to begin your journey toward reduced fatigue, improved balance, and less dizziness and nausea caused by vestibular imbalance.

Almost 70 million people have experienced vestibular imbalance at some point in their lives. The majority of vestibular disorders in adults often go undiagnosed and untreated, resulting in a diminished quality of life and inability to perform normal day-to-day activities.

Symptoms of Vestibular Imbalance Disorders

Symptoms of vestibular imbalance disorders can greatly diminish quality of life and impact all aspects of daily living. Patients suffering from vestibular disorders often experience:

Lightheadedness or dizziness
Vertigo, the sensation of spinning
Nausea
Impaired postural control
Nausea
Vomiting
Reduced Focus
Fatigue

Vestibular imbalance can also contribute to emotional problems like anxiety and depression. Often, people suffering from vestibular disorders also adopt a sedentary lifestyle to avoid the primary symptoms, like dizziness and imbalance. As a result, decreased muscle strength and flexibility, increased joint stiffness, and reduced stamina can occur.

Causes of Vestibular Imbalance

Vestibular disorders can also result from or be worsened by genetic or environmental conditions, or occur for unknown reasons. Most commonly, causes include inner ear infections or disorders, migraines, tumors, stroke, or head injury.

The most commonly diagnosed vestibular disorders include benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, Ménière’s disease, secondary endolymphatic hydrops, and perilymph fistula. Complications from autoimmune disorders and allergies can also cause vestibular imbalance.

Rehabilitation for Vestibular Imbalance

Evidence has shown that vestibular rehabilitation can be effective in improving symptoms related to many vestibular disorders.

Head and neck exercises designed to help the brain “correct” difference between your inner ears, as well as exercises designed to improve balance, can be instrumental to helping eliminate symptoms.

Additionally, Redbud's physical therapists can help correct issues with balance and walking once vertigo has stopped.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We recommend budgeting 40-60 minutes for a typical therapy session. The only exception to this will be your first visit, which can take about 20 minutes longer due to the physical therapy evaluation your therapist will provide. We also recommend showing up about 10-15 minutes early to your first visit. This way, you can complete the paperwork before your visit time and streamline the process.
A physical therapy visit lasts about 40-60 minutes. The actual contents of the visit vary based on your diagnosis/need, but typically what happens is:
1. You check in with the receptionist, make any appointments necessary, and we discuss your health insurance benefits with you.
2. You go into the gym. You can change clothes if you need to, then begin therapy.
3. You perform 6-8 various exercises and stretches. These can include therapeutic band exercises, light body weight exercises, or minimal weights. The stretches will promote strength, stability, improved range of motion, and pain relief.
4. We can initiate other techniques to include manual work, taping, cupping, and dry needling as needed.
5. The therapist makes recommendations based on your progress. These can include altering the frequency of visits, making additions/alterations to your home exercise plan, or things to do before your next visit.
During your initial evaluation, your therapist may ask you a number of questions to determine what the cause of your pain is. This can include questions about your sleep habits, activity level, and work environment. They will also ask for a medical history, and then typically ask direct questions about where and when you experience pain.

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