February 4, 2025

Did you know that COVID-19 can impact more than just your respiratory system? It can also affect your vestibular system—the part of your inner ear that controls balance and spatial awareness. If this system is disrupted, it can lead to symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and motion sickness-like feelings.

How COVID-19 Affects the Vestibular System

The vestibular system helps your body detect head movements, maintain posture, and stay balanced. Researchers are still studying exactly how COVID-19 interferes with this system, but possible causes include:

• Inflammation of the inner ear that disrupts normal balance function.
• Irritation of the vestibulocochlear nerve, which helps transmit balance and spatial information to the brain.
• When the vestibular system is inflamed, it struggles to process sensory information correctly. This can result in:
  • Dizziness or vertigo
  • Lightheadedness
  • Imbalance or difficulty walking
  • Headaches and brain fog
  • Motion sensitivity (feeling off when moving your head or body)

How Vestibular Rehabilitation Can Help

If you’re experiencing these symptoms—whether from COVID-19 or another cause—you may benefit from Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). This specialized form of physical therapy helps retrain your brain to properly interpret balance signals and reduce dizziness.

We as physical therapists can identify your symptom triggers and design a personalized plan to:
✔ Improve balance and coordination
✔ Reduce dizziness and motion sensitivity
✔ Help your brain adapt and restore normal function

Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms!

If you’re feeling off-balance, dizzy, or struggling with motion sensitivity, help is available. Vestibular Rehabilitation can make a huge difference in restoring your stability and quality of life. Please reach out to us at Fitzgerald PT to see if VRT is right for you!

~Contributed by Dr. Rachel Major, Fitzgerald PT