Vestibular Rehabilitation

There is some evidence that the brain can, over time, compensate for vestibular dysfunction from a variety of causes.

Physical therapies utilising ‘vestibular exercises’ have been shown to significantly improve symptoms, and function, for peripheral causes of vertigo, when compared to controls, or no intervention.

If the vertigo is not mild, short-lived or self-limiting, a patient with vestibular dysfunction may therefore benefit from vestibular exercises.

For a simple exercise, patients with acute peripheral vertigo can be advised to focus on an object, while moving their head side to side then up and down. Movements should be slow and slight to start with, to prevent nausea, but can gradually be increased and repeated for several minutes, 2 – 3 times per day.