Get Steady
Vestibular rehabilitation at home
Vestibular rehabilitation is therapy for dizziness, vertigo and balance problems. The aim is to reduce your symptoms, improve your balance and get you back to the things you've been avoiding.
Balance exercises
To improve stability and coordination by challenging your balance in different positions.
Gaze stabilisation exercises
To train your eyes to stay focused while your head moves, which can reduce dizziness and vertigo.
Habituation exercises
To gradually reduce your sensitivity to the situations that bring your symptoms on.
Repositioning manoeuvres
Such as the Epley manoeuvre, used to treat BPPV, a common cause of brief vertigo when you move your head.
General conditioning
Strength, flexibility and endurance work to support better balance and getting about.
Your first visit
Assessment comes first
Before we meet, I'll send you a link to some questionnaires. Paper copies are fine if you'd prefer.
At the visit I check and clarify your answers, then examine you, including balance testing and how well your eyes keep steady as your head moves. We then agree a treatment plan around the goals you want to reach.
Between visits
An exercise programme between visits
In most cases I'll give you an exercise programme to do on your own. At each visit I move the exercises on, so they stay challenging enough for you to keep improving.
BPPV is the exception. It usually needs hands-on treatment, but very few sessions.
About treatment
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That depends on what's causing the problem, how long you've had it and whether anything else might slow recovery, such as problems with your vision or the feeling in your legs and feet. BPPV can usually be resolved in one session. Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) usually takes at least six.
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Most of the work happens between visits, through your exercise programme. Your sessions move those exercises on so your progress keeps going.
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Some are meant to bring on mild symptoms, because that's how the brain learns to adapt. I set them at a level you can manage and build up gradually.
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No. You can refer yourself. Working out what's causing your dizziness is part of the assessment.
Talk it through first
The first phone call is free. Tell me what's been happening and I'll tell you whether vestibular rehab is likely to help, before you book anything.