Vestibular Dysfunction

What is the vestibular system?’

The vestibular system, often referred to as the “inner ear,” is located deep within the skull and plays a key role in balance, spatial awareness, and motion detection. It consists of specialized canals and structures filled with fluid that help detect head movement and send signals to the brain to maintain balance and coordination.

What types of problems can occur with this system? Why? What would it feel like?

Vestibular disorders can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, and blurred or distorted vision. These conditions may develop for many reasons, including aging, head injuries, viral infections, diabetes, osteoporosis, neurological conditions, cancer treatments, or decreased activity levels

How can physical therapy help?

For conditions such as BPPV, physical therapists can perform specialized repositioning techniques to restore inner ear function and reduce dizziness symptoms. Vestibular physical therapy may also include balance training, strengthening exercises, habituation exercises, and education on symptom management to improve function and make daily activities safer and easier.

Diagram of the human ear showing external, middle, and inner ear, with labels for parts including pinna, ear canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles (incus, malleus, stapes), semicircular canals, oval window, cochlea, labyrinth, nerves, vestbular apparatus, eustachian tube, round window, internal jugular vein, and to pharynx.
Diagram of the internal ear showing the cochlea, semicircular ducts, utricle, saccule, and vestibulocochlear nerve, with labels for each part.