Vestibular Rehabilitation
What is vestibular rehabilitation?
- A non-invasive approach for patients with vestibular and balance disorders.
- A systematic, individually designed regimen of exercises and activities that address the unique needs of individual patients.
What are the justifications for referral?
- Positional vertigo
- Persistent vertigo
- History of falls
- Motion sensitivity
- Headache, stiff neck
- Visual motion disturbances
- Blurred vision
- Agoraphobia (fear of open spaces)
- Poor balance
What are the goals of therapy?
- Decrease frequency, intensity, and duration of vertigo
- Decrease related symptoms such as headache, nausea, and lightheadedness
- Improve balance
- Increase independence in daily life
- Develop compensatory strategies for coping with dizziness, disequilibrium, and anxiety
What are typical diagnoses?
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Labyrinthitis
- Vestibular neuronitis
- Chronic vestibulopathy
- Disequilibrium of aging
- Post-surgical imbalance
- Connective tissue disorders
- Bilateral vestibular weakness from ototoxicity
- Vertigo of unknown etiology
What does the evaluation assess?
- Level of vertigo or other dizziness
- Motions that stimulate vertigo
- Functional balance
- Mobility skills
- Musculoskeletal function
- Independence in basic self-care skills and other daily life tasks
What kind of rehabilitation is done?
- Exercises and activities to decrease vertigo
- Repositioning maneuvers and exercises for positional vertigo
- Balance retraining
- Counseling for safety equipment
- Safety training and other mobility skills
- Training in activities of daily living
How do I get a referral?
- Must have a written prescription for occupational therapy from a physician
- Physician should indicate diagnosis
- CFBD Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Therapy clinic days are Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Phone: 713-798-6336
- Fax: 713-798-8658
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