Vestibular Therapy

Vestibular Rehabilitation Services at Garnet Health

The Outpatient Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Program helps people who are experiencing symptoms associated with vestibular disease or disorder, such as:

• Imbalance
• Disequilibrium
• Vertigo
• Visual disturbance
• Dizziness
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Frequent falls

These symptoms can also cause many secondary problems, including nausea, vomiting, fatigue and the inability to focus or concentrate. Having to cope with these symptoms on a daily basis can dramatically affect a patient's quality of life and lead to depression, anxiety, and for patients to develop a sedentary lifestyle in order to avoid bringing on or further worsening the symptoms they experience.

Our Vestibular Rehabilitation Program is specifically geared to treating patients with vestibular disorders by helping to alleviate the primary and consequential symptoms associated with their condition.

Vestibular Disorder Treatment Techniques

Our specialists will start your treatment with a thorough evaluation of your overall health, symptoms experienced, and goals. Treatment plans will then be developed that focus on utilizing proven techniques that will help them to regain the quality of life they’ve been used to.

Though your specific treatment plan will be customized to you, your symptoms, and with your individual goals in mind - generally, vestibular treatment techniques will include:

• Balance Training Balance - exercises are designed to improve the patient's ability to walk on uneven ground or in the dark by improving their balance while, standing, bending, walking, reaching or turning. The goal is to improve confidence and strength in common daily activities.
• Gaze Stabilization - these exercises are used to improve control of eye movements so that when the patient moves their head, their vision can remain clear. This may include having the patient fixate on an object while they move their head up and down or back and forth. The specific exercise will be decided by our vestibular therapist depending on the severity of your symptoms.
• Habituation Exercises - your treatment may include exercise-based habituation techniques, which are designed by a specialized physical therapist, to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. These types of exercises are best suited for patients that indicate an influx of symptoms when they move their head or reach above their heads, or react unfavorably in highly visually stimulating environments. The exercises are indented to reduce the intensity of dizziness and balance loss experienced by the patient through repeated exposure to specific movements or visual stimuli that provoke the patient's symptoms. Provoking symptoms through controlled exposure to triggers will, overtime, teach the patient's brain to cope in real-life environments.

Schedule an Appointment

The professionals at Garnet Health provide rehabilitation services personally tailored to your needs and goals. If you’re looking for outpatient vestibular treatment in Orange and Sullivan counties, call us to learn more about our rehabilitation services:

• Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at Garnet Health Medical Center: 845-333-7300
• Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at Garnet Health Medical Center - Catskills, Harris & Callicoon: 845-794-3300 x 2139

Frequently Asked Questions 

What should I wear? 

In general, we encourage our patients to wear comfortable clothing to their therapy sessions. If you are coming straight from work or on your way to work, you can bring whatever you like to wear with you and change here if needed.

What should I bring to my first appointment?

For your first visit you will need your insurance card and prescription from your doctor. If you have any operative reports, MRI or X-ray results, you may bring those as well, but they are not necessary. Additionally, if you are using any type of brace, splint, or crutches, those should come with you.

How long is each session?

Generally, sessions can last between 30 minutes to an hour.

How often should I attend?

During your initial evaluation, your therapist will be able to tell you the optimal frequency to come, in accordance with your diagnosis, physician's plan of care and insurance coverage.

Will my insurance cover therapy?

Most insurance companies do cover these services, but coverage varies. Depending on what insurance you have, coverage may be dependent on a physiciall referral. We suggest you call your insurance company before hand to see if you require a referral.