Specialty program: Dizziness + Balance / Vestibular Rehab

Dizziness + balance / vestibular rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation is a proven treatment for dizziness and balance problems and is highly effective for all age groups.

The vestibular system includes the parts of your inner ear that sense your head position and movement, the nerve pathways that carry that information to your brain, and the parts of the brain that process it.

The brain uses inputs from the vestibular system, visual system and your muscles and joints to maintain your balance, orientation, and the ability to see clearly when you move. 

Causes and symptoms of dizziness and balance issues

Vestibular issues can result from a variety of problems, including inner ear issues and infections, head trauma, brain-related issues, diseases, medication and more.

Problems in any part of this complex system can result in dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness and visual issues and associated nausea, vomiting, headaches, fatigue and poor concentration.

How does vestibular rehabilitation work?

Vestibular rehabilitation is a research-based therapy that is proven to be effective for many different dizziness and balance conditions.  Lifemark is one of the few healthcare providers in Canada to use infrared goggle technology. This state-of-the-art technology is available in over 100 clinics across the country and allows certain eye movements to be detected. This provides important information about a number of conditions and helps to determine the underlying problem. 

How can vestibular rehabilitation and balance training help me?

We will help you learn about your condition and develop a customized treatment plan to maximize your body’s ability to reduce or eliminate symptoms. This may involve a combination of in-clinic sessions and techniques prescribed for you to work on at home.

Customized treatment plans may include maneuvers to correct vertigo, hands-on techniques to help reduce or eliminate symptoms with movement, balance training, at-home exercises, and diet and lifestyle modifications.  

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), an inner ear problem, is the most common cause of vertigo. We can normally correct the condition in 1-3 treatments.

What can I expect at my initial appointment?

At your initial appointment the therapist will discuss any medical history that relates to your condition, so please bring details of any health problems and past treatments. Our therapists will perform a thorough assessment to determine causes and contributing factors to your condition. Assessment findings and how the vestibular system works will be explained and a treatment plan will be recommended, if indicated. Your therapist will also explain when you can expect to see results.