Vestibular Rehab & Balance Therapy
Regain Your Confidence. Restore Your Balance.
Dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems can make even the simplest daily activities feel overwhelming. Whether your symptoms began suddenly or have been affecting you for months, Foundation Physical Therapy provides comprehensive vestibular rehabilitation in Northern Maine designed to identify the cause of your symptoms and help you return to the activities you enjoy.
Every evaluation is performed one-on-one by a licensed physical therapist, and every treatment plan is individualized to your diagnosis, goals, and lifestyle.
Schedule Your Vestibular Evaluation Today
What Is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system is located within your inner ear and works together with your eyes, muscles, joints, and brain to help maintain balance, stabilize your vision during movement, and tell your brain where your body is in space.
When any part of this system is not functioning properly, it can lead to dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, blurred vision with movement, nausea, motion sensitivity, and an increased risk of falls.
The good news is that many vestibular disorders respond extremely well to specialized physical therapy.
Common Symptoms We Evaluate
Vestibular rehabilitation may be appropriate if you experience:
Vertigo (a spinning sensation)
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Feeling off balance
Frequent falls or near falls
Motion sensitivity
Difficulty walking in busy environments
Blurred or bouncing vision while moving
Nausea associated with movement
Difficulty turning your head while walking
Sensitivity to grocery stores or crowded spaces
Difficulty driving because of dizziness
Persistent unsteadiness
Brain fog associated with dizziness
Conditions We Commonly Treat
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. Tiny calcium crystals inside the inner ear become displaced, causing brief episodes of spinning when rolling over in bed, looking up, bending over, or changing positions.
Many cases can be successfully treated using specialized repositioning maneuvers, often providing significant relief within only one or two visits.
Vestibular Neuritis & Labyrinthitis
Inflammation affecting the inner ear or vestibular nerve can cause sudden dizziness, imbalance, nausea, and difficulty walking.
Vestibular rehabilitation helps retrain the brain to compensate as the inner ear heals, improving balance and reducing dizziness.
Vestibular Hypofunction
When one or both inner ears are not functioning normally, patients may experience persistent imbalance, difficulty walking in the dark, or blurred vision during movement.
Treatment focuses on improving gaze stability, balance, walking confidence, and overall function.
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
PPPD is characterized by ongoing dizziness or unsteadiness that often worsens while standing, walking, or in visually busy environments.
Treatment combines education, gradual exposure to movement, balance retraining, and individualized vestibular rehabilitation.
Vestibular Migraine
Vestibular migraine may cause dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, motion sensitivity, and visual disturbances, sometimes without a headache.
Physical therapy can help reduce motion sensitivity, improve balance, and restore confidence with daily activities as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Balance Disorders & Fall Prevention
Balance problems may result from aging, neurological conditions, inner ear disorders, orthopedic injuries, vision changes, or multiple contributing factors.
A comprehensive evaluation helps identify which body systems are contributing to your balance difficulties so treatment can be tailored specifically to your needs.
Your Evaluation
As the ear may not be the only cause, your initial vestibular evaluation is comprehensive and may include:
Detailed medical history
Review of your symptoms
Balance assessment
Walking and gait analysis
Eye movement examination
Vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) testing
Positional testing for BPPV
Functional mobility assessment
Fall risk evaluation
Personalized treatment plan
Because dizziness can have many different causes, identifying why you are experiencing symptoms is one of the most important parts of the evaluation.
Treatment May Include
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include:
Canalith repositioning maneuvers (Epley Maneuver)
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
Gaze stabilization training
Habituation exercises
Balance retraining
Walking and gait training
Visual motion desensitization
Fall prevention education
Home exercise program
Activity modification and symptom management strategies
Why Choose Foundation Physical Therapy?
At Foundation Physical Therapy, we believe every patient deserves individualized care—not a one-size-fits-all treatment plan.
When you choose Foundation, you can expect:
One-on-one treatment with a licensed physical therapist
Comprehensive vestibular evaluation
Individualized treatment based on your specific diagnosis
Evidence-informed rehabilitation techniques
Hands-on guidance throughout your recovery
A focus on helping you safely return to work, sports, recreation, and everyday life
Our goal isn't simply to reduce dizziness—it's to restore your confidence, independence, and quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral?
Many patients can see a physical therapist directly without a referral. Some insurance plans have their own requirements, and we'll help you determine what applies to your situation.
How many visits will I need?
Recovery varies depending on the condition. Some patients with BPPV improve within one or two visits, while more complex vestibular disorders may require several weeks of rehabilitation.
Will therapy make me dizzy?
Some exercises intentionally challenge the vestibular system and may temporarily reproduce mild symptoms. This is often a normal part of rehabilitation and helps your brain adapt over time. Treatment is always progressed based on your comfort and tolerance.
Ready to Take the First Step?
You don't have to simply "live with" dizziness or balance problems.
Whether you're experiencing vertigo, motion sensitivity, persistent dizziness, or balance concerns, we're here to help.