Vestibular Rehabilitation and Balance Retraining

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At Lifeline, balance therapy is offered to relieve symptoms of inner-ear disorders:

• Dizziness/vertigo

• Imbalance/unsteadiness

• Visual motor disturbances/nausea
  
   

Secondary symptoms such as memory problems; muscular stiffness, imbalance or weakness; anxiety; fatigue and headaches can be relieved through appropriate balance therapy.

Common Causes of Inner-Ear Disorders and Imbalance:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

• Oxtotoxicity

• Labrynthine Concussion

• Vascular Ischemia

• Acoustic Neuroma

• Meniere’s Disease

• Viral/Bacterial Infections: labyrinthitis

• Trauma

Patients Who Would Benefit Most:

• Persons experiencing vertigo and imbalance that continues after three to four weeks of symptoms.

 

What Happens in Therapy?
Patients undergo a thorough evaluation to determine what exercises would best help resolve their vertigo/dizziness.

This evaluation involves…

• Neuromuscular evaluation
   

• Visual Motor Assessment – measures inner ear/eye “connection” by infrared video-goggles and visual observation.
   

• Balance Assessment – measured by state-of- the-art Balance Master equipment and standardized tests.
   

• Vertigo Assessment
   

• Therapist designed exercise/movement program pertaining to a patient’s individual goals.

 

The exercise/movement program involves…

• Vestibular habituation/adaptation exercises to stimulate dizziness until the patient’s brain is able to habituate or adapt to overcome the conflict between the brain and the inner ear.
   

• Visual motor exercises for gaze stabilization and eye-head coordination, if one’s inner-ear/ eye muscle “connection” is not functioning properly.
   

• Balance retraining exercises to strengthen the muscles required for better balance and to improve the organization of sensory information between eyes, ears and muscle receptors.
   

• Canalith repositioning procedures for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. These specific maneuvers involve gently moving the patient’s head in a sequence of positions to relocate the gravity sensing otoconia -- commonly known as “ear rocks” -- within the semicircular canals, so that they do not send faulty signals to the brain. These procedures are 95% effective in eliminating Benign Positional Vertigo in 1-4 visits.

 

Advantages of Lifeline Rehabilitation

• Physician in attendance at all times

• Vestibular therapist certified at Emory University School of Medicine

• Vestibular rehabilitation integrated with physical therapy, if necessary

• Dietitian to counsel dietary treatment for particular diagnoses

• State–of-the-art balance assessment and training equipment

• Vestibular Support Group led by a Doctor of Social Work