Move With More Confidence

Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation helps address dizziness, vertigo, balance problems, and motion sensitivity with care that is specific to how your symptoms are affecting daily life.

Book an Appointment Meet Your Team

When dizziness or balance problems get in the way

Dizziness can be unsettling. It may affect how you walk, turn your head, lie down, exercise, work, drive, or move through busy environments. Some people feel spinning, or a false sense of motion which is called vertigo. Others feel unsteady, lightheaded, sensitive to motion, or worried about falling.

Vestibular rehabilitation may be helpful when symptoms involve:

dizziness or vertigo
balance problems or frequent falls
motion sensitivity
blurred vision with movement
nausea related to movement
any of the above symptoms after concussion or whiplash

There are many possible causes of dizziness, so the first step is understanding what may be contributing to your symptoms.

Ringing in the ears often accompanies vestibular dysfunction, but as a lone symptom is not treated with vestibular rehabilitation.

How we assess vestibular concerns

Your therapist will ask about your symptoms, health history, how and when the dizziness started, what brings it on, and how it affects your daily life. They may assess balance, walking, neck movement, eye movement, head movement, positional triggers, and how your body responds to motion.

The goal is to understand whether your symptoms may be related to the vestibular system, your neck, concussion recovery, balance control, or another factor that may need medical follow-up.

Vestibular therapists have different levels of education and experience, ranging from in-clinic mentorship to additional certifications. Please review each therapist’s bio for their specific vestibular and concussion training.

Common vestibular conditions

Vestibular rehabilitation may be part of care for several dizziness and balance-related concerns.

BPPV

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV, can cause brief episodes of vertigo with changes in head position, such as lying down, rolling over, looking up, or bending forward. Treatment often involves specific repositioning techniques selected after assessment.

Cervicogenic dizziness

Sometimes dizziness may be related to the neck, especially with whiplash, neck pain, neck stiffness, or changes in posture and movement. Your therapist can assess whether your neck may be contributing to your dizziness symptoms.

Vestibular hypofunction

The vestibular system can be affected by viral illness, head injury, concussion, aging, or other causes. When this happens, the brain may need help recalibrating how it uses information from the inner ear, eyes, muscles, and joints to maintain balance and equilibrium.

Treatment may include

Your treatment plan will depend on your assessment findings. Vestibular rehabilitation may include:

repositioning techniques for BPPV
balance and walking exercises
gaze stabilization exercises
movement and motion-sensitivity exercises
neck treatment or mobility exercises
gradual exposure to symptom-provoking movements
education about dizziness, triggers, and symptom management
return-to-work, sport, driving, or daily activity guidance

Treatment is usually progressed gradually. Your therapist will help you understand which symptoms are expected during rehab, what to monitor, and when the plan needs to be adjusted.

What to expect

Your first visit will include a detailed conversation and assessment. Some vestibular testing may bring on dizziness temporarily, because your therapist needs to understand which movements or positions affect your symptoms.

Your therapist will explain what they are finding and recommend a plan based on your specific presentation. You may leave with exercises or strategies to practise at home, along with guidance on how often to do them and how to respond if symptoms flare.

If your symptoms suggest that medical assessment is needed, your therapist can help you understand the appropriate next step.