Vestibular Rehab / Dizziness & Balance
Vestibular rehabilitation is physical therapy for dizziness, vertigo and balance problems that start in the inner ear (the vestibular system) or in the way the brain reads its signals. Many patients find that targeted head, eye and balance exercises can reduce symptoms and help them feel steady again. Western Slope Rehab and Performance treats dizziness and balance problems in Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.
How your inner ear keeps you upright
Your vestibular system sits in the inner ear and tells your brain where your head is and how it is moving. That signal helps you keep your balance and your center of gravity, and it keeps your eyes steady while your head moves. When the system is damaged or sending mixed messages, the brain does not get what it needs to keep you upright.
The result can be feeling off balance, lightheaded, unsteady on your feet, or like the room is rocking or spinning even while you sit still. If you get dizzy for more than a few seconds, or it gets in the way of your day, it is worth having a physical therapist work out why.
What can cause dizziness and imbalance
Several different problems can look alike from the inside, which is why a proper evaluation matters.
BPPV
Tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear slip out of place and cause brief spinning when your head moves.
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis
An inner ear infection or inflammation can bring on vertigo and unsteadiness.
Meniere's disease
Fluid builds up in the ear, with ringing and episodes of strong dizziness that can last for hours.
Migraine
A migraine can affect the vestibular system and cause vertigo, with light or sound sensitivity.
Stroke, head injury and nerve damage
A recent stroke, a concussion or neuropathy in the feet can all disturb balance.
Aging and inactivity
Less movement, joint stiffness from arthritis and the changes of aging can all add to unsteadiness.
Vertigo and BPPV: when the room spins
Vertigo is a spinning or rocking sensation, different from general lightheadedness. The most common cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
What BPPV is
Ear crystals (calcium debris) break loose and move into parts of the inner ear where they should not be. The brain gets false signals about movement.
Typical triggers
Positional vertigo shows up when you are dizzy lying down, dizzy when you roll over in bed, or when you tip your head back to look up.
How physical therapy treats it
Your therapist checks your eye movements in different head positions, then uses repositioning maneuvers, often called the Epley maneuver, to guide the crystals back where they belong.
When it is not BPPV
If the dizziness does not fit, or the maneuvers do not settle it, the same evaluation points toward other causes and a broader vestibular therapy plan. See our Vestibular Therapy page for the treatment itself.
Vertigo treatment is not one-size-fits-all
Vertigo physical therapy depends on what your tests show, so your plan is built from your evaluation, not from the label alone.
What a vestibular evaluation looks at
Your first visit is an assessment. Your physical therapist will look closely at:
- Your balance and how you stand and walk
- Your eye movements and how steady your vision stays when your head moves
- Your symptoms: what sets the dizziness off and how long it lasts
- Your medical history, including past falls, head injuries and any ear or neurological conditions
- Strength, joint motion and sensation in the legs and feet that affect balance
Retraining the brain and inner ear to work together
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is exercise-based. Your plan is tailored to what the evaluation finds and may include gaze stabilization exercises to keep your vision steady while you move, habituation exercises that gradually reduce your reaction to movements that trigger dizziness, balance training, gait training and manual head maneuvers for vertigo.
Some exercises will feel uncomfortable at first because they bring on a little dizziness on purpose. Your therapist guides how far to go, and you get a home program to keep the retraining going between visits.
Strength and joint stiffness matter too, so your plan can include Therapeutic Exercise and Manual Therapy where they fit. If walking itself is the main concern, see Balance & Gait Disorders.
Staying on your feet and losing the fear of falling
Dizziness that goes unchecked raises the risk of a fall and a serious injury, and fear of falling can make people stop doing what they enjoy. Part of vestibular care here is helping you move with more confidence so you can get back to your favorite activities. Our Fall Prevention page explains that program in full.
If you are looking for balance therapy near me in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton or the Redlands, call us or request a visit online.
Go to the ER if dizziness comes with these signs
Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if sudden dizziness or vertigo comes with any of these:
- Slurred speech or trouble speaking
- A drooping face
- Weakness in an arm or leg
- Double vision or sudden trouble seeing
- A sudden, severe headache
These can be signs of a stroke. Do not wait for a physical therapy appointment.
Related care
Find your footing again in Grand Junction
Tell us where the dizziness shows up and we will start from there. You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off on the plan of care (Direct Access). If you are unsure, call (970) 314-9822 and we will check your plan.
We see patients from Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.