Dr. Sara Ullenbruch uses Applied Functional Science and methods from The Gray Institute to provide a unique type of care for Vestibular Dysfunctions. The goal of Vestibular Rehabilitation is to use a problem-oriented approach to promote compensation. This is achieved by customizing exercises to address the specific problem(s) of each individual.
Our therapy services include treatment for:
- Balance Problems
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Dizziness
- Fall Prevention
- Head Trauma
- Visual Induced Dizziness (motion sensitivity)
- Vestibular Rehab
Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program, designed by a specialty-trained vestibular physical therapist, to improve balance and reduce problems related to dizziness. It is an exercise-based program primarily designed to reduce vertigo and dizziness, reduce gaze instability, and/or reduce imbalance and fall risk, as well as address any secondary impairments that are a consequence of the vestibular disorder. (correcting compensations, balance deficits, muscle weakness etc.)
Studies show that medication alone improves your symptoms 50% of the time or less while a customized vestibular rehabilitation therapy can help improve your symptoms by 85%.
If you experience positional vertigo (the feeling the room is spinning around you when you make certain movements, such as lying down, rolling over in bed and/or looking up), then you may have a condition known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) which is one of the most common causes of short bouts (<60 seconds) of vertigo. The good news: your symptoms associated with BPPV can usually be treated successfully in just one to two visits.
No two exercise treatment plans are exactly alike. Your exercise program is developed by identifying your deficits and coming up with a comprehensive functional plan to address all deficits associated with your dizziness.
Examples of exercises you might learn include:
- Vision stability training
- Posture training
- Stretching and strengthening exercises
- Balance retraining
- Walking exercises
- Neck mobility/stretching exercises
- General fitness exercises
- Ergonomic training (This advice is given so that workplace furnishings can be adjusted to improve a person’s posture and decrease any discomforts.)