What Is Vestibular Rehab? How Can It Help You after a TBI?
In the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, one of the common symptoms most people experience is dizziness, vertigo or loss of balance. Often, that’s because you’ve had some type of injury to your “vestibular” system. Located inside your inner ear, the three canals that make up your vestibular system are sensory inputs that send signals to your brain. One canal monitors up-and-down movement, one senses side-to-side movement and the remaining canal informs your brain of any tilting movements. Injury to your vestibular system can also lead to nausea, tinnitus (a ringing in your ears) or cognitive impairment, also common side effects of a traumatic brain injury.
Vestibular Rehabilitation—What It Is and What It Does
Vestibular rehab is a set of physical exercises, typically prescribed and facilitated by a physical therapist, that can minimize balance issues and effectively treat dizziness or vertigo. Some of the exercises customarily included in a vestibular rehabilitation program are:
- Vision stability training—This can be as simple as maintaining your focus on a fixed object while turning your head left or right or moving it up and down. More advanced exercises typically change the speed of movement or the distance away from the object. The exercises can require that you keep your head still and move your eyes or move your head while focusing on an object.
- Balance training—This can involve a wide array of exercises, including balancing on one foot, using an exercise ball, or other exercise tool
- Strength exercises
- Neck mobility and stretching exercises
- Posture training
- Walking exercises
Contact Us to Set Up an Appointment
At Advantage Healthcare Systems, we have extensive experience working successfully with individuals who suffer any type of TBI or traumatic brain injury. Call us toll-free at 1-877-487-8289 or fill out the form provided below to schedule an assessment. We offer locations across Texas, including Fort Worth, Dallas and San Antonio.
