Vestibular Rehabilitation: Evaluation and Management of Individuals with Dizziness and Balance Disorders

Course overview

Symptoms of dizziness are the number 3 reason individuals over the age of 65 seek medical attention. It becomes the number 1 reason for seeking care in individuals over the age of 70. Medical or surgical management is often not indicated or helpful, but many of these individuals do benefit from vestibular rehabilitation techniques. In addition, 50% of the individuals over the age of 65 with dizziness will develop a particular form of vertigo that can be alleviated with one simple therapy treatment. These individuals with vertigo and dysequilibrium represent a large patient population for physical and occupational therapy. This course will focus on the assessment and treatment of patients with vertigo and disequilibrium from vestibular causes. Specific emphasis will be placed on the assessment and treatment of unilateral and bilateral vestibular hypofunction, benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo, central vestibular disorders, and multisensory dizziness. This information is applicable to a large patient population including geriatric patients as well as individuals with CNS lesions such as multiple sclerosis, CVA, and head injury.