Balance and Vestibular Therapy
Vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness and balance disorders in San Diego
Vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness and balance disorders in San Diego
Scripps Health offers vestibular therapy, also known as balance therapy or vestibular rehabilitation, for people who need to overcome dizziness and restore their sense of balance.
Certified in providing balance and vestibular rehabilitation services, our team of physical therapists can help patients regain their equilibrium and ability to move without experiencing vertigo, balance problems, nausea or other symptoms.
What is the vestibular system?
The vestibular system is composed of several tiny structures within the inner ear that help maintain your sense of balance. When these structures sense movement, they send signals to the muscles in the eyes and various parts of the body, including the arms and legs. When the vestibular system is working properly, you are able to keep your balance and keep your gaze fixed on an object, even as your head or body moves.
What causes vestibular disease and balance disorders?
When your vestibular system is disrupted by an illness or injury, the resulting symptoms include dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, loss of balance and a feeling of motion sickness. These symptoms can be caused by a variety of medical disorders or different types of trauma, including:
- Meniere’s disease
- Acoustic neuroma
- Labyrinthitis
- Vestibular neuritis
- Inner ear trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV or BPV)
- Perilymphatic fistula
Audiologists can identify the source of your balance problem, and this gives you a diagnosis by a physician. Once diagnosed, patients may be referred to a specially trained vestibular therapist who provides balance and vestibular rehabilitation.
Certified vestibular therapy services
Scripps physical therapists have special certifications in balance and vestibular physical therapy to create customized treatment plans for their patients that include:
- Head and eye vestibular rehabilitation exercises
- Gait and balance training to improve walking ability and prevent falls
- Reconditioning, flexibility and strength exercises to improve general activity
- Positional head movements to eliminate or control symptoms
- Safety education
Scripps can also provide objective, computerized measurements of balance and equilibrium using sophisticated balance devices available in Encinitas.
Balance and vestibular therapy locations
Balance and vestibular rehab services are offered at the following Scripps Health locations in San Diego County: