Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation Program

The Marianjoy Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation Program is a specialized form of physical therapy designated to promote habituation and compensation for a wide variety of balance and vestibular disorders. The goal of the program is to improve balance, decrease dizziness and minimize falls by restoring normal vestibular function and postural control.

Typically, the program is designed for patients with vestibular or balance disorders causing any of the following symptoms:

• Vertigo/dizziness
• Frequent falls
• Disequilibrium/unsteadiness
• Gait difficulty
• Restrictions of daily activities

There are many causes or reasons why a patient may need a vestibular and balance evaluation. Some of these reasons may include:

• Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis -inner ear infection
• Benign Proxsymal Positional Vertigo
• Acute vertigo caused by head trauma or whiplash
• Chronic vertigo caused by chemical or drug toxicity
• Acoustic neuromas
• Meniere’s Disease
• Age-related multi-sensory deficits
• Stroke, brain injury, and vascular insufficiencies

Services

Marianjoy’s Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation program services include any of the following:

• A comprehensive evaluation in vestibular, proprioceptive, and visual system
• Analysis of functional abilities

• Ambulation with head movement, turns and speed changes
• Neuromuscular integrity
• Muscle strength
• Static/dynamic balance when sitting and standing

• A personalized exercise protocol focusing on restoring muscle strength;

• Enhancement of eye-head coordination to maintain stable gaze;
• Improvement of postural control;
• Gait stability;

A typical patient will receive 2-3 outpatient therapy sessions per week for approximately 4-6 weeks.

For more information

For more information, contact Anne Swanstrom-McCoy at
ASwanstrom-McCoy@marianjoy.org.