What to expect from balance and vestibular therapy at Penn Medicine
Penn Medicine offers outpatient physical medicine and rehabilitation locations throughout the greater Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Princeton areas, making it convenient to get the care you need. Balance and vestibular rehabilitation is a type of outpatient therapy. You work with a physical or occupational therapist regularly and learn exercises you can continue at home.
It can take anywhere from six weeks to three months to see results. Some people experience dizziness and nausea during therapy, but these symptoms are temporary.
There are three main components to vestibular therapy: habituation exercises, gaze stabilization, and balance training.
Habituation exercises use repeated movements to help your brain and body get used to dizziness triggers. People who feel dizzy or off balance with specific head movements or in busy environments can benefit from habituation exercises. Repeated exposure to the same movement or environment makes your brain gradually acclimate to the irregular signals it receives.
Gaze stabilization exercises improve your ability to focus on a stationary object while you move your head. These visual tracking exercises help your eyes, head, and neck move together to maintain proprioception (your body’s ability to sense its position in space). While sitting, you keep your eyes fixed on a stationary object and move your head from side to side. Once this feels comfortable, you repeat the same exercise while standing and walking.
Balance training exercises improve stability so you can do daily activities with less risk of falling. You may start with stationary exercises such as standing with your feet apart, balancing on one leg, or standing with your eyes closed. You can use a wall or other support to balance at first. You gradually progress to walking on stairs and uneven ground. You may also practice walking while moving your head, making turns, or catching a ball.