Vestibular Rehab / Dizziness & Balance
Vestibular rehabilitation is physical therapy for dizziness, unsteadiness and balance problems that come from the inner ear or the brain. LOR Physical Therapy lists vertigo treatment among its services and has dizziness and balance packets for patients, and our physical therapists in Laguna Niguel can help you feel steady on your feet again.
What the vestibular system does
The vestibular system is the balance organ in your inner ear, working with your eyes and the sensors in your joints to tell your brain where you are. When it misfires, you feel dizzy, lightheaded, off balance or unsteady on your feet.
Common causes of dizziness and balance problems
The cause decides the treatment, so we start by finding it.
BPPV
Inner ear crystals that shift out of place and cause short spells of spinning. It has its own page, vertigo and BPPV.
Inner ear infections and inflammation
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis cause days of strong dizziness, followed by weeks of imbalance.
Aging and nerve changes
Balance fades with age and with reduced feeling in the feet, and the risk of a fall rises.
After a head injury
Dizziness after a concussion should be assessed by a doctor first.
How a visit for dizziness and balance works
A careful history
When the dizziness happens, how long it lasts, what brings it on and any falls or near falls.
Balance and movement testing
We test how you stand and walk, how your eyes track and how your balance responds to movement.
Retraining your balance
Exercises that train the brain, the eyes and the inner ear to work together again, matched to what the testing found.
Fall risk and feeling steady again
If you feel unsteady, have almost fallen or have started to avoid activity for fear of falling, tell us. Strength, balance and walking practice reduce fall risk, and confidence follows. LOR also has a balance packet and a back and balance packet on the forms page to fill in before your first visit.
Go to the ER if you have
Sudden dizziness can be a sign of something serious.
- Sudden dizziness with slurred speech, facial droop or weakness
- Dizziness with a sudden severe headache
Whether your insurance plan needs a referral differs from plan to plan: call the number on your insurance card to check, or call us before your first visit and we will help you find out.
Questions about dizziness and balance
What is vestibular therapy?
Vestibular therapy, also called vestibular rehabilitation, is exercise-based treatment that retrains the balance system when the inner ear or brain has stopped working in step with your eyes and body.
Why am I feeling off balance?
Feeling off balance can come from the inner ear, from reduced feeling in the feet, from medicines or from other causes. A balance exam helps work out which.
Does fall prevention work?
Fall prevention that combines strength, balance practice and a check of footwear and the home lowers the chance of a fall, and builds confidence.
Is there balance therapy near me?
LOR Physical Therapy lists vertigo treatment among its services in Laguna Niguel and has balance and dizziness packets to fill in before a visit. Call the clinic to ask about balance therapy.
Related care
Dizziness and balance care in Laguna Niguel, California
LOR Physical Therapy treats dizziness and balance at our Laguna Niguel clinic, 31271 Niguel Road, Suite J, for patients across South Orange County.
Whether your insurance plan needs a referral differs from plan to plan: call the number on your insurance card to check, or call us before your first visit and we will help you find out.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.