Vestibular Therapy & Balance Problems
We use individualized vestibular therapy & balance training to address vertigo, dizziness, lightheadedness, and gait impairments which result from disrupted sensory and motor processing pathways in the central nervous system. Much of the modalities used in testing balance control can be used for therapy as well. Every modality utilized in a patient’s treatment is specific for activating brain structures that are found to be dysfunctional. Vestibular therapy can include exercises such as balance platforms, eye-head exercises, vestibular tone pacer, off-axis rotational therapy, gaze stabilization exercises, and various forms of stimulation that target precise brain structure and re-map proper connections that address vestibular symptoms and balance problems. All forms of treatment increase activation of cerebellar structures that control posture, head & eye yoked movements and core stability. We also strive to include a variety of gait and balance training protocols to promote dynamic movement patterns and reflexogenic responses that are necessary for optimal human function. Treatment for vertigo & vestibular deficits requires brain-based therapies to re-wire neuron connections that allow for proper balance and coordination.
Vestibular therapy and balance exercises are one component of our multimodal sensory integration therapies. These forms of stimulation require individuals to balance precisely, make spatial judgments, and error feedback within their CNS. In order to balance and walk efficiently, we rely on accurate vestibular, proprioception, and eye movement signals. Vestibular therapy is a powerful and effective modality for maintaining and improving brain-processing efficiency. When a person engages in balance exercises that include motor activities involving many different sensory systems, the brain utilizes its neural network to organize and execute the activities effectively. As the difficulty of a task increases, the number of neurons the network requires to perform the task increases.
Our innovative vestibular therapy helps restore impaired function by leveraging the brain’s inherent ability to repair itself. The therapies target affected areas with specific exercises to rebuild neural pathways. Treatment regimens include innovative balance training, vestibular rehabilitation, eye movement exercises, complex movement patterns, translational otolithic activation, rotational chair therapies, electrical somatosensory stimulation, visual activation, and auditory tones. These various forms of stimulation activate neural networks to re-calibrate the way our brain perceives the world and transmits the appropriate motor, cognitive, or limbic response. Accurate brain perception of sensory input from the world surrounding us is the key to achieving optimal brain function. Good brain function enables us to become the most healthy, happy, intelligent, and of course successful human beings possible