Vestibular Rehabilitation & Vertigo Treatment

The room is spinning — but you’re perfectly still. That disorienting, destabilizing sensation is the hallmark of vertigo, and for the millions of Americans who experience it, it can make even the simplest daily activities feel dangerous and exhausting. The good news is that vestibular physical therapy is one of the most effective treatments available for vertigo and balance dysfunction — with success rates that rival or exceed those of medication alone. At Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab, our vestibular rehabilitation specialist is based at our South Bossier clinic and provides dedicated, expert care for patients throughout the Shreveport-Bossier area suffering from vertigo and vestibular disorders.

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation of movement — spinning, rocking, or tilting — when you are completely still. It is medically distinct from general dizziness in that it involves a perceived sense of motion rather than simply feeling lightheaded or unsteady. Episodes can last minutes, hours, or days, and they can significantly impair your ability to drive, work, and move safely through your environment.

The vestibular system — a network of fluid-filled semicircular canals and sensory cells in the inner ear — acts as the body’s internal gyroscope, continuously providing the brain with information about position and movement. When this system is disrupted, the brain receives conflicting signals, producing the disorienting sensation of vertigo.

Common Causes of Vertigo

Vertigo can originate from peripheral sources (the inner ear) or central sources (the brain and spinal cord). The conditions most effectively treated with vestibular physical therapy are peripheral in origin and include:

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – The most common cause of vertigo, BPPV occurs when calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear become displaced and migrate into the semicircular canals, producing brief but intense episodes of spinning triggered by specific head movements. It is highly responsive to physical therapy intervention
• Meniere’s Disease – A condition involving fluid buildup in the inner ear that causes recurring episodes of vertigo, hearing fluctuation, tinnitus, and a sensation of fullness in the ear
• Vestibular Hypofunction – Reduced function of one or both sides of the vestibular system — often following illness, infection, or injury — causes persistent imbalance, dizziness, and difficulty with visual focus during movement
• Post-Concussion Vestibular Dysfunction – Head injuries and concussions frequently disrupt vestibular function, producing dizziness, balance disturbances, and motion sensitivity that respond well to specialized vestibular rehabilitation
• Post-MVA Vestibular Disruption – The jarring forces of a motor vehicle accident can displace inner ear crystals and disrupt vestibular function, producing vertigo and balance problems that are often overlooked in post-accident care

Diagnosing Vestibular Disorders

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective vestibular treatment. Your vestibular physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive evaluation that includes a detailed history of your symptoms, onset, triggers, and any contributing medical history. Clinical assessment tools used in the evaluation process may include:

• The Dix-Hallpike Test – Repositions the head to reproduce positional vertigo symptoms and identify BPPV in the posterior semicircular canal
• The Roll Test – Rapid lateral head movements used to identify horizontal canal BPPV
• Oculomotor and Gaze Stability Testing – Assessment of abnormal eye movement patterns that help identify the type and location of vestibular dysfunction
• Balance and Postural Stability Assessment – Evaluating how the vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems are working together to maintain balance

Vestibular Rehabilitation Treatment

Once the source of your vestibular dysfunction is identified, your physical therapist will design a targeted treatment plan to address it directly. Vestibular physical therapy is not a generic exercise program — it is a precise, clinically guided intervention tailored to your specific diagnosis.

Treatment may include:

• The Epley Maneuver (Canalith Repositioning Procedure) – A highly effective sequence of specific head movements designed to guide displaced crystals out of the semicircular canals and back to their correct position. Research supports the Epley maneuver as effective in up to 90% of BPPV cases — often producing significant relief in just one or two treatment sessions
• Cawthorne Head Exercises and Gaze Stabilization Training – A structured series of head and eye movement exercises that reduce the sensitivity of the vestibular nerves and retrain the brain’s ability to process vestibular signals accurately
• Vestibular Habituation Exercises – Repeated, controlled exposure to symptomtriggering movements to desensitize the vestibular system and reduce the intensity and frequency of vertigo episodes
• Balance and Proprioception Retraining – Progressive exercises to restore stability, reduce fall risk, and improve the coordination between the vestibular, visual, and musculoskeletal systems
• Home Exercise Program – Your therapist will provide a customized home exercise program so you can continue your vestibular retraining between sessions and maintain your progress long-term

Why Choose Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab for Vestibular Rehab

Vestibular rehabilitation requires specialized training and clinical expertise that goes well beyond general physical therapy. Our vestibular rehabilitation specialist at the South Bossier clinic is specifically trained in the full spectrum of vestibular assessment and treatment techniques — including the Epley maneuver, Cawthorne exercises, and gaze stabilization protocols — and has helped numerous patients throughout the Shreveport- Bossier area find lasting relief from vertigo and vestibular dysfunction.

Patients from our South Shreveport and North Shreveport locations are warmly welcomed at our South Bossier clinic for vestibular rehabilitation services. Our team will ensure a seamless experience and keep your care coordinated across locations.

Make Your World Stop Spinning

Vertigo and vestibular dysfunction are highly treatable — and you don’t have to keep white knuckling through episodes or relying on medication that only masks the symptoms. Expert help is available now.

Contact Fultz Physical Therapy & Joint Rehab today to request your vestibular evaluation at our South Bossier clinic and take the first step toward steady, confident, symptom-free living.