Feeling unsteady isn’t just frustrating — it can be dangerous. Especially for older adults, dizziness, vertigo, and balance issues are leading contributors to falls, injuries, and lost independence. But what many people don’t realize is that there’s a specialized form of physical therapy that can help: vestibular physical therapy.
What Is Vestibular PT?
Vestibular physical therapy focuses on treating dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and related symptoms stemming from the inner ear and nervous system. At clinics like Complete Balance Solutions - Seal Beach, care is rooted in advanced training, compassion, and patient education. Dr. Megan Mar, PT, DPT, is a Certified Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist who regularly sees how life-changing this care can be.
“There’s so much interest in this topic, especially among older adults who often don’t get the right answers or feel empowered to advocate for themselves,” says Dr. Mar. “That’s why we focus not just on treatment — but on education.”
Why It Matters for Fall Prevention
A recent systematic review by Donavan et al. (2023) found that undiagnosed vestibular dysfunction plays a major role in falls:
- Peripheral vestibular dysfunction was found in 62% of individuals who had fallen
- Central vestibular dysfunction was present in 45%
In Dr. Mar’s community presentations, she explains how the vestibular system interacts with the eyes, proprioception, and brain to help us stay balanced — and what happens when it doesn’t function properly.
What to Expect in Vestibular PT
If you’ve been struggling with dizziness, vertigo, or unexplained unsteadiness, vestibular PT offers a proactive, non-invasive path forward. Treatment often includes:
- Balance and gait training
- Fall recovery strategies (including transfer training from the floor)
- Virtual reality or immersive force plate balance testing
- Dual-task training to improve coordination and cognition
- Vestibular input retraining to improve postural control
Patients also receive tailored education about how their balance system works — and how they can take control of their health.
Education in Action
Dr. Mar has been invited three times to speak at Leisure World Seal Beach, a local senior community, due to the overwhelming interest in her presentations. Attendees have shared thoughtful questions, stories, and a shared desire to better understand their symptoms — a testament to how common dizziness and balance issues truly are.
“We want every patient to feel informed, empowered, and confident in navigating their symptoms,” says Dr. Mar. “It’s not just about restoring balance — it’s about restoring quality of life.”
If you or a loved one is experiencing dizziness or imbalance, don’t wait. A vestibular PT can help uncover the cause and create a plan to improve your safety and stability.