Vestibular Rehabilitation
Our physical therapists have developed the Vestibular Rehabilitation program to help improve the symptoms of dizziness while increasing mobility and balance. This rehabilitation helps to retrain the body when stroke, brain trauma, inner ear surgery or chronic disease like MS or Parkinson’s affects the vestibular system. Patients with vertigo, motion intolerance and dizziness associated with neck pain may also benefit from this program.
Our body’s sense of balance and spatial orientation is something we take for granted. But when illness or injury affects the body’s balancing system, it can lead to falls, reduced mobility, blurred vision, headaches, nausea and other physical discomforts. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, is often to blame. An important contributor to the body’s balancing, this system has three jobs to do:
- Detect the position of the head in space and on the body
- Ensure postural control
- Contribute to coordination of head and eye movement
Treatment may include computerized sensory integration testing and gait training using the SMART Balance Master®, available at Harbour View, DePaul, and Mary Immaculate physical therapy locations. Individualized treatments include:
- Vestibular Habituation/Adaptation Exercises: Based on the rationale that by repeating the movements that create dizziness or vertigo, the brain will adjust its response
- Vestibular Ocular Exercises: Combine head and eye movements in progressively more complicated combinations and positions to reduce vertigo symptoms
- Balance Retraining: Involves exercises designed to improve coordination of muscle responses, as well as the organization of sensory information for balance control
- Gaze Stabilization Exercises: Reduce retinal image “slipping,” which contributes to the sense of imbalance
- Compensatory Strategies: To help minimize the effects of vestibular loss of function
- Cardiovascular Exercises: To increase endurance
- Sensory Integration Strategies: Sensory and motor activities to help the brain better absorb and process sensory information
- Posture Education and Instruction in Ideal Head and Body Positioning
- Fall Prevention and Safety Training
In Motion staff teach patients how to compensate for loss of sense of balance, provide a home exercise program and give suggestions for ways to make home and other spaces safer, fall-free zones.
Our Locations
In Motion at DePaul
Norfolk Fitness & Wellness Center
7300 Newport Ave., Ste. 300
Norfolk, VA 23505
Phone: (757) 217-0333
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In Motion at Portsmouth Boulevard
5553 Portsmouth Blvd
Portsmouth, VA 23701
Phone: (757) 465-7906
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In Motion at Portsmouth YMCA
4900 High Street West
Portsmouth, VA 23703
Phone: (757) 483-4518
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In Motion at Harbour View
Bon Secours Health Center at Harbour View
Medical Arts Building
5838 Harbour View Blvd
Suffolk, VA 23435
Phone: (757) 673-5971
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In Motion at Downtown Suffolk
1417 North Main Street
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 934-3366
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In Motion at Hilltop
1817 Laskin Rd., Suite 100
Virginia Beach, VA 23454
Phone: (757) 437-0471
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In Motion at Redmill
Redmill Landing
1253 Nimmo Parkway, Suite 105
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone: (757) 943-3060
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In Motion at Boo Williams Sportsplex
Boo Williams Sportsplex
5 Armistead Pointe Parkway,
Hampton, Virginia 23666
Phone: (757) 224-4601
Fax: (757) 224-4618
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In Motion at Victory YMCA
101 Long Green Blvd
Yorktown, VA 23693
Phone: (757) 952-1900
Fax: (757) 952-1911
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In Motion at Mary Immaculate
Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital, Health Resource Center
2 Bernardine Drive
Newport News, VA 23602
Phone: (757) 886-6480
Fax: (757) 886-6077
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