Almost everyone has felt dizzy, lightheaded, or unsteady at one time or another. Unlike dizziness, vertigo has a rotational component in which a person perceives a false movement or spinning in either themselves or their surroundings.

The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process sensory input involved with controlling balance and eye movement. Frequent bouts of dizziness or vertigo, especially when associated with changes in head position, can indicate a vestibular disorder. Symptoms can last from a few seconds to a few minutes, and in some cases, even longer.

Symptoms can include but are not limited to:

• Dizziness
• Vertigo or sense of spinning
• Poor balance
• Disorientation
• Head in a tilted position
• Vision disturbance
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches or migraines
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty in crowds or open spaces

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a noninvasive treatment approach that can be a possible alternative to or used in conjunction with medication or surgery. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a specialized exercise-based approach designed to help resolve inner ear deficits. The goal is to retrain your vestibular system to better coordinate with your central nervous system.