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vestibular therapy.

Physical therapy for your vestibular system

Dizziness, lightheadedness, imbalance, nausea, and vision disturbances can really turn your world upside down—or at least make it feel that way! These symptoms, often referred to as vertigo, can be frustrating and make even the simplest daily activities, such as walking or reading, much more difficult.

Person holding their head with dizziness and vestibular system problems.

Causes for this condition

There are many possible causes, so it can sometimes be a little tricky for you to figure out why you’re feeling this way. Even worse, if these problems persist or worsen and you don’t seek treatment, you are putting yourself at risk of injury.

One possible cause is damage to the vestibular system, which consists of parts of the inner ear and brain that contribute to balance, spatial orientation, and eye movements. Vestibular disorders occur when the system has been impaired by aging, injury, or disease, causing people to experience a range of symptoms, including dizziness or a spinning sensation, imbalance, nausea, trouble focusing, and blurred vision.

How can your vestibular system become damaged?

Aging

It’s no secret that as we begin to age, our bodies don’t look or function the same way they did when we were younger. Our vision and hearing worsen, our bones and muscles become weaker, our skin wrinkles, and our medication list often increases. The same holds true for our vestibular system. As we age, our vestibular function progressively decreases, which leaves the senior population susceptible to gait and balance problems, and significantly increases their risk of falling. Vestibular therapy can help aging adults combat balance issues associated with reduced vestibular function, thereby reducing their falls risk.

Injury

Concussions and other types of head and neck trauma can also cause vestibular dysfunction. Many athletes who sustain these types of injuries can experience symptoms of dizziness and lightheadedness as part of post-concussion syndrome, and are often referred to a vestibular therapist for treatment. Additionally, vestibular therapists can help athletes reduce their concussion risk, by developing personalized programs to manage any preexisting coordination and balance conditions.

Disease

Some vestibular disorders are temporary and can be cured, or they’ll go away on their own. Others are incurable but can be treated and managed with vestibular therapy. Individuals diagnosed with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Meniere’s Disease, neuritis, labyrinthitis, or vestibular hypofunction, may often get referred to a vestibular therapist for treatment of the condition, and/or management of the symptoms.

We'll help you get your life back

If you are experiencing dizziness, imbalance or nausea our physical therapists will customize a vestibular physical therapy rehabilitation plan just for you. We will work in an effective way to get you back on your feet, focused on your wellness before, during and after therapy.

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How can Vestibular Therapy help me?

Physical Therapists trained or certified in vestibular rehabilitation therapy, can design an exercise-based treatment plan to help reduce your feelings of vertigo or dizziness, improve balance and coordination, and get you back to your normal activities. The type and frequency of the exercises are customized for each individual, and are based upon a number of variables, including the underlying condition, medical history, age, lifestyle, strength and mobility.

What to expect at my Vestibular Therapy sessions?

Your therapist will first conduct an initial clinical evaluation to discuss your symptoms, medical history, medication list, and lifestyle, and then develop a treatment plan consisting of one or more of the following:

  • Head and neck exercises to help reduce feelings of dizziness from motion, particularly when making rapid head movements or looking up or down.
  • Gaze stabilization exercises, for individuals having trouble focusing on objects, or experience blurry vision when reading.
  • Balance training exercises, to strengthen core and leg muscles, and combat gait abnormalities. They are designed to help you move more steadily on your feet, thereby reducing your risk of falling.
  • A personalized home exercise program tailored to your needs and abilities. These exercises should take place outside of your vestibular therapy sessions, and are a critical component to your recovery. Patients who comply with their home exercise program see greater results than those who do not.

Many of our Physical Therapists are certified and trained in treating patients with vestibular disorders and can answer your questions, or start treatment right away.

Female physical therapist with a patient in Manhattan NYC doing balance training on a blue mat.

Insurances We Accept

Below is a condensed list of insurances we participate with throughout our network of physical therapy clinics.  Find your particular provider below based on your area.
For a complete listing of all insurance providers and individual plans by name: CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL INSURANCE PAGE.

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Tri-State Area Insurance Providers

New York, New Jersey, Connecticut

  • Aetna (NY, NJ, CT)
  • AmeriHealth (NJ)
  • Anthem BCBS (CT)
  • Bardavon (Workers' Compensation – NY, NJ, CT)
  • Cigna/ASH (NY, NJ, CT)
  • CIGNA - Medicare (NY, NJ)
  • ClearComp (Workers' Compensation – NY, NJ)
  • Clover Health Medicare Advantage (NJ)
  • Comp X (Workers' Compensation – NJ)
  • ConnectiCare (CT)
  • Department of Labor (Workers' Compensation – NY, NJ, CT)
  • Empire BCBS (Individual Providers In Network – NY)
  • Empire Plan MPN (UHC – NY, NJ)
  • Fidelis Wellcare (NJ)
  • First MCO (Workers' Compensation – NJ)
  • GHI (Emblem Health – NY, NJ, CT)
  • HIP (Emblem Health – NY)
  • Horizon BCBS (NJ)
  • Horizon Casualty (Workers' Compensation – NJ)
  • Independence BCBS (Southern NJ)
  • Magna Care (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Magna Comp (Workers' Compensation – NY, NJ, CT)
  • Medicare (NY, NJ, CT)
  • MedRisk (Workers' Compensation – NY, NJ, CT)
  • MultiPlan (NY, NJ, CT)
  • New Jersey Manufacturers (NJ)
  • NJM (Workers' Compensation – NJ)
  • No Fault (Various Carriers)
  • Northwell Health Clinical Integration Network IPA (NY)
  • OccuNet (NJ)
  • One Call (NY, NJ)
  • Oscar Health Plan (NY)
  • Oxford (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Providers Edge Scheduling Group/PESG (WC)
  • QualCare (NJ)
  • Qual-Lynx (Workers' Compensation – NJ)
  • SPNET (Workers' Compensation - NY, NJ, CT)
  • Streamline (NJ)
  • Streamline (Workers' Compensation – NJ)
  • TRICARE (NY, NJ, CT)
  • United Health Care (NY, NJ, CT)
  • Wellcare (NY)
  • Workers' Compensation (Various Carriers)

New England Insurance Providers

Massachusetts, New Hampshire

  • Aetna (MA, NH)
  • Ambetter/NH Healthy Families (NH)
  • Amerihealth Caritas (effective date 4/27/2020 - NH)
  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield (NH)
  • Bardavon (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
  • BCBS Massachusetts (MA)
  • CeltiCare (MA)
  • Commonwealth Care Alliance (MA)
  • Fallon Health (MA)
  • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (MA, NH)
  • Health New England (MA)
  • Magna Care (MA, NH)
  • Magna Comp (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
  • Martin’s Point Health Care (NH)
  • Mass General Brigham Health (Formerly AllWays Health Partners)
  • Massachusetts Health (Medicaid – MA)
  • Medicaid (MA, NH)
  • Medicare (MA, NH)
  • Med Risk (Workers' Compensation – MA)
  • ML Healthcare (NF – MA, NH)
  • No Fault (Various Carriers)
  • Omni Healthcare (MVA Lien – MA, NH)
  • One Call (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
  • SPNET (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
  • Streamline (Workers' Compensation – MA, NH)
  • TRICARE (MA, NH)
  • Tufts Cigna (MA)
  • Tufts Health Plan (MA, NH)
  • Tufts Medicare Advantage (MA)
  • Tufts Public (Medicaid – MA)
  • UniCare (MA)
  • United Health Care (Optum – MA, NH)
  • WellSense Health (Formerly BMC – Boston Medical Center – MA)
  • Workers’ Compensation (Various Carriers)

Convenient physical therapy clinics near you

Our physical therapy clinics are located throughout New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.  Find a clinic near you today to speak with a Professional Physical Therapist and vestibular treatment specialist today.

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