Vestibular Rehab: What It Is and How It Helps with Dizziness and Balance

When your inner ear sends mixed signals to your brain, you don’t just feel off—you might spin, sway, or lose your balance without warning. That’s where vestibular rehab, a targeted therapy program designed to retrain the brain to compensate for inner ear dysfunction. Also known as vestibular therapy, it’s not just exercises—it’s a reset for your body’s natural balance system. Unlike pills that mask symptoms, vestibular rehab fixes the root problem: your brain no longer trusting the signals from your inner ear after injury, infection, or aging.

This kind of therapy is often used for people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a common condition where tiny crystals in the inner ear shift and trigger sudden spinning spells, or for those recovering from vestibular neuritis, an inflammation that knocks out one side of the balance system. It’s also common after head injuries, strokes, or even long-term use of certain antibiotics. The goal? Get your brain to rely on other cues—like your eyes and muscles—to stay steady. You’re not training your ear; you’re retraining your brain.

Most programs start with simple head movements and eye-tracking drills, then build to walking on uneven surfaces, standing with eyes closed, or turning quickly while focusing on a target. It sounds basic, but it’s science-backed. Studies show over 80% of people see major improvement in just 4 to 6 weeks. You don’t need fancy gear—just consistency. And unlike surgery or long-term meds, this approach has almost no side effects. If you’ve been told your dizziness is "just stress" or "nothing serious," vestibular rehab proves otherwise—it’s a proven fix for a real, measurable problem.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just theory. You’ll see real-world advice from people who’ve been there: how to pick a therapist, what to do at home between sessions, how to tell if your dizziness is from your inner ear or something else, and why some people bounce back fast while others need more time. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what works.