Vestibular Rehabilitation
Have you heard of these words? Probably not…. Most of our patients who come in for vestibular rehab have no clue that there is a physical therapy for the inner ear. Many are even skeptical! This is why our specialist, Maristela (Mari) Nevin, P.T. is very passionate in this field. For over 20 years, she has helped many patients benefit from her expertise in vestibular rehabilitation. She continues to be highly recommended by many doctors and fellow therapists in Orange County and surrounding areas.
Understanding Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation is a special field in physical therapy that deals with dizziness & imbalance associated with inner ear pathology. It involves active exercises and maneuvers specifically designed for each patient, depending on what symptoms are present. “Vestibular” is the medical name for your inner ear. Common symptoms of vestibular dysfunction include: dizziness, spinning sensation, unsteadiness, difficulty focusing, nausea, vomiting, hearing change, tinnitus, pressure/pain in the ears.
The treatment principles behind vestibular rehab exercises can also be applied to other balance problems that are not specific to an inner ear problem.
Not all physical therapists can perform this specialty – a special training is required.
Your Inner Ear – Organ of Hearing and Balance
When we think of our ears, we usually think of our hearing. Our ears have another important function – to keep our balance, especially when our head or body is moving. Together with the inner ear, our eyes (having clear vision) and legs (good strength and proprioception or how our feet feels the ground) help control our balance during our daily activities. The inner ear houses both our hearing and balance organs. It is present on both ears. It normally works in perfect harmony with each other to keep our balance good. When one side gets hypo or hyperactive, this results in dizziness and/or imbalance.
Benefits of Vestibular Rehabilitation:
• Remission of dizziness
• Improvement in balance
• Stabilization of gaze / vision
• Fall Prevention
How will I know if vestibular rehab can help my dizziness / imbalance?
A thorough evaluation is needed in order to determine if you are a good candidate. Patients who come to our office have usually been to an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor or a neurologist. These doctors are the ones who are most familiar with the benefits of vestibular rehab. Sometimes, you may need to undergo some tests to rule out other major causes of your imbalance. Other times, your primary doctor will refer you right away to vestibular rehabilitation, depending on your symptom presentation.
How Do I get started with vestibular rehabilitation?
It is best to get a prescription from your doctor (primary care, ENT, neurologist), as many insurance companies still require a prescription in order to get covered for physical therapy. However, if you have difficulty obtaining one or need to be seen by our therapist sooner, we will gladly see you for your initial evaluation without a prescription. In New York, you are allowed to see a physical therapist without a prescription for the first 10 visits or 30 days, whichever comes first. A prescription is needed should you need to continue beyond this.
BE WARY….Not all doctors are up to date on their treatment options when it comes to dizziness and imbalance. Conventional medication is not always your only treatment option for your dizziness. Other doctors may even say “You have to live with your dizziness”. Get informed and don’t settle for this!
To learn more about vestibular rehabilitation, visit www.vestibular.org. This website has a reliable source of information that can help you understand your symptoms.