Vestibular Rehab / Dizziness & Balance
Vestibular rehabilitation is exercise-based physical therapy for dizziness, vertigo, blurry vision with movement and trouble with balance that come from the inner ear or the brain. If you have balance problems, this is the treatment for them. It teaches your brain to rely on your eyes, your body sense and what is left of inner ear function so you can move with more confidence. We offer vestibular therapy in Chubbuck, Idaho, for patients from Chubbuck and Pocatello.
The inner ear's job, in plain language
Deep in each ear is a small set of canals and sensors, the vestibular system. It works like a gyroscope: it tells your brain which way your head is turning and where it is in space, and your brain combines that with what your eyes see and what your feet and joints feel.
When one part of that team sends bad information, you can feel dizzy or lightheaded, feel off balance, or feel unsteady on your feet. Other problems often follow: nausea, trouble focusing, tiredness, and worry about when the next spell will hit. Many people start doing less to avoid symptoms, and then muscle strength, flexibility and stamina drop too. Treatment helps with those secondary problems as well.
What can throw off your balance
Dizziness and imbalance have many causes. A good evaluation sorts out which one is yours.
Loose inner ear crystals (BPPV)
Brief spinning when you roll over or look up. It has its own page: Vertigo and BPPV.
Inner ear infection or inflammation
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis can follow a virus and leave you off balance for weeks. Many people still feel unsteady after the infection has cleared.
Head injury
Dizziness and balance trouble are common after a blow to the head. See Concussion and traumatic brain injury.
Nerve damage in the feet
When your feet cannot feel the ground well, balance suffers. See Peripheral Neuropathy.
Neurological conditions
Movement and balance change with Parkinson's disease, after a stroke and in other neurological disorders.
Aging and general gait changes
Slower reactions, weaker legs and an old ankle or knee injury can all add up to a wobbly walk. We look at the whole picture, from the inner ear to the toes.
What your vestibular evaluation looks like
Your first visit starts with a long conversation: when the dizziness happens, what sets it off, how long it lasts, and what you stopped doing because of it. Then Jared Pugmire, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT, Dip Osteopractic, Cert. SMT/DN/VCS tests your balance and how you stand and walk, watches how your eyes move and follow a target, and moves your head and body into positions that show which part of the system is struggling.
Dr. Pugmire has special training in vestibular and concussion rehabilitation. From that exam we build an exercise program that fits your problem, because no two dizzy patients need the same one.
How the exercises retrain your brain
For most people with a vestibular disorder, the inner ear itself recovers only a little. Relief comes from compensation: your brain learns to use vision and body sense in place of the weak signal. Three kinds of exercise do the work.
Habituation
Repeating the movements or positions that bring on dizziness, in small, controlled doses, so your brain turns down its reaction to them.
Gaze stabilization
Keeping your eyes locked on a target while your head moves. It helps when the world seems to bounce or blur as you walk or turn your head.
Balance training
Standing and walking drills that get harder step by step: feet together, eyes closed, soft surfaces, turns and changes of direction. This is also gait training for people who walk cautiously or in a wide stance.
Repositioning for BPPV
If crystals are the problem, the Epley maneuver can move them back where they belong, often in a visit or two.
Fall prevention, and the fear of falling
Once you have stumbled, the fear of falling again can shrink your life. That fear is a reason to get checked, not a reason to stay home.
- We test balance, leg strength and walking so you know where your risk comes from
- Strength and balance exercises that carry over to stairs, curbs, getting up from a chair and walking in the dark
- Advice on home safety, shoes and walking aids when they fit
- A home program, so the work continues between visits
Go to the ER right away if dizziness comes with
- Slurred speech or trouble finding words
- A drooping face
- Weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
- A sudden, severe headache
- Sudden double vision or loss of vision
These can be signs of a stroke. Call 911. For dizziness that is new and unexplained, see your doctor before starting therapy. Idaho allows direct access to physical therapy, so you do not need a referral from a doctor to begin. Some insurance plans, and Medicare typically, may still require one. If you are unsure, call us and we will check your plan.
Dizziness and balance questions
Is there balance therapy near me in Chubbuck or Pocatello?
Yes. We offer balance therapy and vestibular therapy at our clinic in Chubbuck, Idaho, and many patients come from Pocatello.
Why do I feel unsteady on my feet?
Common reasons are an inner ear problem, an old head injury, numb feet, weak legs or a mix. The evaluation sorts out which, and treatment follows from that.
How long are visits, and how many will I need?
Visits typically last 30 to 60 minutes. The number of visits varies a lot with the cause and how long you have had symptoms, from one visit for some to months of care for others. You are re-evaluated regularly and your plan changes as you improve.
Will the dizziness get worse before it gets better?
Some exercises are meant to bring on mild symptoms for a short time, because that is how the brain learns. Your therapist chooses the dose and tells you what is normal. Tell us if symptoms linger.
Does insurance cover vestibular rehabilitation?
We accept most insurance plans and verify your benefits before you arrive. Auto injury liens, Medpay and workers compensation are accepted, and there is a self-pay option. Call the office to confirm your plan.
Dizziness and balance care in Chubbuck, Idaho
Call or request an appointment at our Chubbuck clinic. We see patients from Chubbuck, Pocatello and the surrounding area who are tired of feeling off balance.
We see patients at our Chubbuck clinic from Chubbuck and Pocatello, Idaho.