Physical Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Retraining the balance system after dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance.
Understanding This Condition
The vestibular system — located in the inner ear and connected directly to the brain — is what gives you a sense of balance, spatial orientation, and stable vision while you move. When it's disrupted by injury, illness, infection, or age, the result is dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, or a sense that the world is moving when it isn't.
Vestibular rehabilitation is specialized physical therapy that retrains the brain to compensate for a damaged or miscommunicating vestibular system. It's one of the most effective treatments available for chronic dizziness and imbalance, and one of the most underutilized, simply because most physical therapy clinics don't offer it.
What Causes It
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis (inner ear inflammation, often viral)
- Concussion or traumatic brain injury
- Meniere's disease
- Age-related decline in balance function
- Prior vestibular injury that never fully resolved
Signs & Symptoms
- Vertigo — a spinning or whirling sensation
- General dizziness or lightheadedness
- Unsteadiness or a feeling of imbalance while walking
- Difficulty focusing vision while moving your head
- Nausea associated with movement or position changes
- Increased falls or near-falls
How We Evaluate It
We conduct a thorough vestibular evaluation, including positional testing, oculomotor (eye movement) assessment, and balance testing, to identify the specific type and source of your vestibular dysfunction — since treatment differs significantly depending on the underlying cause.
Our Treatment Approach
Vestibular rehabilitation uses specific, targeted exercises to retrain the brain's ability to compensate for vestibular dysfunction, rather than simply waiting for symptoms to fade.
- Habituation exercises to reduce dizziness triggered by specific movements
- Gaze stabilization exercises to improve vision stability during head movement
- Balance retraining specific to your deficits
- Canalith repositioning maneuvers for BPPV when applicable
What to Expect
Many patients see significant improvement within a few weeks of consistent vestibular therapy, though the timeline depends on the underlying cause and how long symptoms have been present.
Vestibular symptoms are highly treatable in the vast majority of cases — the key is getting an accurate diagnosis and a program built around your specific type of dysfunction, not just "waiting it out."
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my dizziness ever fully go away?
Most patients see substantial or complete improvement with the right vestibular rehabilitation program, especially when treatment starts before symptoms become chronic.
Is vestibular rehab the same as general balance exercises?
No — vestibular rehab is specific to your diagnosis and targets the exact mechanism causing your symptoms, which produces far better results than generic balance work.
Can vestibular issues be related to a past concussion?
Yes, very commonly — concussion is one of the leading causes of persistent vestibular dysfunction, and it's an area we specifically screen for.
Dizziness and imbalance are not something you have to just live with. With the right evaluation and a program built for your specific condition, most patients see real, lasting improvement.
Confidential · No Pressure · Coordinated Care
Start today. Walk-ins welcome.
Call us, send a message, or just come by the clinic. Same-day appointments are available, and our team will meet you without judgment.
1010 E McDowell Rd, Suite 410, Phoenix, AZ 85006 · Open until 7 PM Wednesdays