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Vestibular therapy How physical therapy helps dizziness, vertigo and unsteadiness
Vestibular therapy is exercise-based physical therapy for dizziness, vertigo and unsteadiness caused by problems in the inner ear balance system or the way the brain processes balance signals. A physical therapist tests your balance, eye movements and walking, then builds a program of gaze stability exercises, gradual exposure to the movements that trigger dizziness, and balance and walking drills. Many people improve within six to eight weeks of regular practice. Sudden, severe dizziness with other new symptoms is an emergency, and new dizziness should be checked by a doctor first. If balance problems come from Parkinson’s disease rather than the inner ear, see physical therapy for Parkinson’s.
Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people see a doctor, and it can make everyday life feel unsafe: turning in bed, looking up at a shelf, or walking through a busy store. When the cause is the vestibular system, the balance organs in the inner ear and their connections to the brain, exercise can retrain it. This post explains what vestibular therapy is, who it helps and what the exercises look like. At Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance, vestibular therapy is offered at our Brooklyn office, where Zoya Reznik, DPT, OCS leads it; she talks about chronic dizziness in the first video. For general steadiness and fall prevention, see our guide to balance exercises.
Get checked first: dizziness warning signs
Call 911 for sudden dizziness with a severe headache, chest pain, fainting, slurred speech, double vision, facial drooping or weakness or numbness on one side. Any new or unexplained dizziness should be checked by a physician before you start exercises, because dizziness also comes from blood pressure, heart rhythm, medications, dehydration and other medical causes that need different care.
Who vestibular therapy helps
- BPPV: short spins of vertigo when you roll over, lie down or look up, caused by tiny crystals moving in the inner ear
- After an inner ear infection (vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis), when the room has stopped spinning but you still feel off
- After a concussion or whiplash: dizziness, blurry vision with head movement, or feeling foggy in busy places. Our whiplash page covers neck injuries after a car accident.
- Chronic dizziness and unsteadiness that has lasted months, often with a fear of falling, the problem discussed in the first video
Vestibular therapy exercises
A physical therapist first tests your balance, eye movements, neck motion and walking, then chooses from three kinds of exercise:
Gaze stability
Keep your eyes on a word on a card while turning your head slowly side to side, then up and down. It trains the eyes to stay steady when the head moves. Start for 30 seconds, a few times a day.
Habituation
Short, repeated exposure to the movements or settings that bring on mild dizziness, such as bending down, turning or watching moving scenes, so the brain gets used to them. Mild, brief dizziness during these exercises is expected and settles as you go.
Balance and walking
Standing with feet together, then heel to toe, on soft surfaces and with the eyes closed, then walking while turning the head, stepping over objects and moving through drills like the agility ladder in the second video. Our balance exercises guide shows how these levels progress.
For BPPV, a clinician trained in the technique may use a repositioning maneuver, a set sequence of head and body positions that moves the loose crystals back to where they do not cause vertigo.
How long vestibular therapy takes
Most programs combine weekly or twice-weekly visits with short home exercises done several times a day. Many people notice a change within a few weeks and finish in six to eight weeks; long-standing dizziness can take longer. Doing the exercises every day matters more than any single session. Our post on what to expect at physical therapy explains how visits and home programs work together.
More videos on dizziness and balance
More clips from our YouTube channel @precisioncaremedical showing balance and coordination drills for dizziness.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Vestibular therapy near you in Brooklyn
Searching for a physical therapist near me who treats dizziness? Vestibular therapy is offered at our Brooklyn physical therapy office on Shell Rd, led by Zoya Reznik, DPT, OCS. It is an easy trip from Sheepshead Bay, Manhattan Beach, Midwood and Gravesend. The same office offers physical therapy in Brooklyn for balance, neck and back problems, and Ashley Marcus, MD sees patients there if your dizziness needs a physician’s evaluation first.
Vestibular therapy is offered at the Brooklyn office only. Request an appointment or call the Brooklyn office at (718) 648-1234.
Questions patients ask
What is vestibular therapy?
Exercise-based physical therapy for dizziness, vertigo and unsteadiness caused by the inner ear balance system or the way the brain processes balance signals. It uses gaze stability, habituation and balance exercises.
What conditions does vestibular therapy help?
BPPV, lingering dizziness after an inner ear infection, dizziness after a concussion or whiplash, and chronic dizziness or unsteadiness that has lasted for months.
How long does vestibular therapy take to work?
Many people notice a change within a few weeks and finish in about six to eight weeks with daily home exercises. Long-standing dizziness can take longer.
Is it normal to feel dizzy during the exercises?
Mild, brief dizziness during some exercises is expected and settles as the brain adapts. Your therapist sets the level so it stays manageable.
When is dizziness an emergency?
Call 911 for sudden dizziness with a severe headache, chest pain, fainting, slurred speech, double vision, facial drooping, or weakness or numbness on one side.
Where can I get vestibular therapy near me?
Vestibular therapy is offered at the Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance Brooklyn office, with Zoya Reznik, DPT, OCS:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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