Balance & Vestibular
Balance disorders are common occurrences that most people do not realize are treatable with therapy. Balance Rehabilitation is the treatment of balance disorders such as imbalance and/or falls. Vestibular Rehabilitation is the therapy for dizziness. At Alpha Rehab, our therapists are specially trained and regularly see patients for balance and vestibular rehabilitation. Our physical therapists will work closely with you and your physician to effectively address and solve your balance or vestibular disorder and get you back to normal.
Causes for balance and vestibular problems may include:
• Age-Related Balance Issues
• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV (“Ear Crystals”), sometimes called Vertigo
• Stroke or Traumatic Brain Injury
• Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Ataxia or Cerebellar Problems
• Ear or Other Viral Infections
• Muscle Weakness
• Ménière’s Disease
• Post Trauma Vertigo
• Fear of Falling
• Balance Dysfunction
Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation Evaluation and Treatment
Your physical therapist will conduct a thorough evaluation to determine your diagnosis or mechanism that is causing the balance problems, falls, and/or dizziness. They will then perform a series of tests including assessing lower extremity range of motion, muscle strength, gait/walking patterns and use of assistive device if used, and perform standardized testing to assess your balance. When experiencing dizziness, your therapist will evaluate determine mechanism of injury and what makes your symptoms better or worse. Based on your results, your treatment will be customized to meet your specific needs.
Interventions may involve:
• Strengthening and conditioning exercises
• Balance exercises to challenge static, dynamic, reactive, and proactive balance
• Focused activities to work on improving gait or appropriate use of assistive device
• Strengthening exercises using a variety of state-of-the art equipment
• Specific manual techniques for vertigo/BPPV
• Gaze stabilization techniques
• Patient education for continued success at home