12.1 Balance Exercises

Balance exercises or training involves activities aimed at reducing instability/falls by improving patients’ ability to maintain their center of gravity within their support base. Because balance training aims to challenge stability, it is important to structure patient activities at the appropriate level and to screen patients who may be exceedingly unsafe for these activities¹ (also see Screening for Falls, Chapter 4; Gait and Locomotion Training, Chapter 14).

Vestibular rehabilitation aims at addressing disequilibrium and dizziness symptoms related to peripheral vestibular pathology by using specific exercises to improve balance and reduce dizziness.¹ Unstable conditions listed below are CIs. For CRM, correct identification of semicircular canal involvement is necessary before treatment can be appropriately administered.