Vestibular Rehab / Dizziness & Balance
Vestibular rehabilitation is physical therapy for dizziness, unsteadiness and balance problems caused by the inner ear (the vestibular system) or the brain. It retrains the brain and inner ear to work together. PAR Physical Therapy offers vestibular therapy in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet
What the vestibular system is
Your vestibular system is the balance sensor in each inner ear. It tells your brain how your head is moving, and your brain combines that with sight and feeling from your feet. When the signals disagree, you feel dizzy, lightheaded and off balance, or as people often say, unsteady on my feet.
Common causes of dizziness and imbalance
BPPV
Loose inner ear crystals cause brief spinning with head movements. See vertigo and BPPV.
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis
An inner ear infection or inflammation can leave you spinning for days, then unsteady for weeks.
Concussion
Dizziness, motion sensitivity and balance trouble can follow a head injury. See Concussion.
Aging
Balance reflexes, vision and strength slow with age, which makes feeling off balance more common.
Neuropathy
Numb feet send weak signals to the brain. See Peripheral Neuropathy.
Neurological conditions
Parkinson's disease and stroke also affect balance. See Parkinson's Disease and Stroke Recovery.
What a vestibular evaluation involves
Your first visit is a real process, and we tell you what we find.
Your history
When it happens, how long it lasts, what brings it on, and your medicines and falls.
Eye-movement testing
We watch how your eyes track and hold steady as your head moves.
Balance testing
Standing, walking and turning tests show how your body is using its balance system.
Your plan
You leave with a short home program and a clear idea of what the next visits will do.
How treatment works: retraining the brain and inner ear
Exercises make the brain adapt, so they work best when done regularly.
- Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) matched to your test results
- Gaze stabilization exercises to keep your vision steady as your head moves
- Habituation exercises that gradually reduce sensitivity to triggering movements
- Balance and gait training, with canalith repositioning (Epley maneuver) when BPPV is the cause
Fall risk and fall prevention
Fear of falling can make people move less, which makes balance worse.
Who is at higher risk
Older adults, people who feel unsteady on their feet, and people with neuropathy, vestibular problems or weak legs.
What helps
Strength, balance practice, safer footwear and a home check. Our full fall prevention program has the details.
Go to the ER if dizziness comes with
- Slurred speech
- A drooping face
- Weakness on one side
- A sudden, severe headache
These can be signs of a stroke. Call 911 rather than waiting for an appointment.
Dizziness and balance care in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet
Looking for balance therapy near me? Call either clinic. Call either clinic or request an appointment. Same-day appointments are possible, and we accept most insurance plans.
We see patients in Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
Request an Appointment Call Myrtle Beach Call Murrells Inlet