What is vestibular, balance and gait rehabilitation?
Your balance depends on several systems working together: the inner ear, vision, sensation, strength, coordination and the brain. A problem in any one of these areas can cause vertigo, dizziness, unsteadiness, altered walking or fear of falling.
This integrated approach identifies which systems are contributing to your symptoms and builds a targeted plan to improve stability, walking mechanics and confidence during everyday movement.
What conditions can this program address?
Treatment may help people experiencing:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis and Meniere's disease
- Vestibular migraine and persistent dizziness
- Post-concussion dizziness
- Age-related balance loss and fall risk
- Walking changes related to stroke or Parkinson's disease
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Weakness or deconditioning after surgery or inactivity
What happens during the evaluation?
Your physical therapist reviews when symptoms began, what movements or positions trigger them, your fall history and how dizziness or instability affects daily life.
The physical assessment may include positional and eye-movement testing, gaze stability, strength, sensation, posture, walking mechanics and fall-risk measures. Motion sensors, video analysis or foot-pressure mapping may also be used when appropriate.
What does treatment involve?
Your care plan is based on the cause of your symptoms and may include:
- Canalith repositioning maneuvers for BPPV
- Gaze stabilization and habituation exercises
- Static and dynamic balance training
- Gait and stair training
- Strength, coordination and motor-control exercises
- Postural training and movement retraining
- Foot-pressure or walking analysis
- A personalized home exercise program
Some positional vertigo improves quickly, while neurological, balance and walking conditions often progress over several weeks of consistent training. Your therapist monitors your response and adjusts the program as your tolerance and confidence improve.
Call or text Preserve Physical Therapy to schedule a vestibular, balance and gait evaluation, or request an appointment online.
