Introduction
Definition and Goals of Vestibular Rehabilitation (VR)
Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is a specialized, exercise-based therapeutic approach designed to promote central nervous system compensation for dysfunction within the vestibular system. The vestibular system in the inner ear plays a critical role in sensing head motion and orientation, contributing to gaze stability, postural control, and spatial awareness. Damage or dysfunction within this system can lead to debilitating symptoms such as vertigo (a sensation of spinning), dizziness, visual disturbances (like oscillopsia, the illusion of environmental movement during head motion), and imbalance, significantly increasing the risk of falls and impairing daily function.
The primary goals of VR are to alleviate these symptoms, enhance gaze stability during head movements, improve postural control and overall balance, reduce the risk of falls, and ultimately improve functional independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and enhance quality of life (QoL). VR achieves these goals by leveraging the brain's inherent neuroplasticity—its ability to adapt and reorganize in response to altered sensory input or experience.
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