According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 20 million children and adults experience concussions, mild traumatic brain injuries (TBI), or head trauma annually. These common issues occur as a result of falls, sports injuries, motor vehicle accidents, and blunt force trauma and often disrupt work, education, and even normal day-to-day activities.

If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion and are struggling with dizziness or other symptoms, let us help. At Denver South Chiropractic, we offer vestibular rehabilitation in Denver to help patients recover from these all-too-common injuries and get back to living their normal lives.

Symptoms of Post-Concussion Vestibular Dysfunction

Symptoms can persist for several months or even years following a concussion. Some of the many symptoms of post-concussion vestibular dysfunction include:

Dizziness
Poor balance
Blurred vision or eye strain
Nausea
Vomiting
Vertigo
Rapid, uncontrollable eye movement
Motion sickness
Postural instability
Abnormal gait
Spatial impairment

What Is Vestibular Rehab?

Vestibular rehab, which is also called “concussion rehab,” is a type of treatment that focuses on improving the connection between the brain, eyes, inner ear, muscles, and nerves. It is most often used to treat people who have suffered a concussion.

Because dizziness and other common concussion symptoms can be caused by many different things, we need to do a thorough evaluation before starting treatment. During an assessment for vestibular rehabilitation, we observe posture, balance, and the neck’s strength, range of motion, and joint mobility. We also check for motion-induced dizziness and assess eye movements and the eyes’ ability to remain focused when the head is moved.

What to Expect

Once we have determined that your vestibular dysfunction was caused by a concussion or similar head injury, we will formulate a plan that’s custom-tailored to your unique needs. Your vestibular rehabilitation plan may include a variety of exercises, balance training, etc. Most often, you can expect treatment to last 4-6 weeks, during which time you should notice an improvement in your symptoms. Our goal is to get each patient as close to being symptom-free as possible so they can get back to living their lives.