CurrentAT, Athletic trainerPT, Physical therapistOT, Occupational therapistDC, Chiropractor
Vestibular rehabilitation
Choose your profession and state in Your lens above, and this page answers for you first.
At a glance
- DC, ChiropractorChiropractorVaries by stateChiropractic laws do not name vestibular rehabilitation; Texas's highest court upheld a board rule letting specially trained chiropractors perform vestibular eye-movement testing, and some states allow whatever procedures chiropractic colleges teach, but no board was found to address repositioning maneuvers, so the answer depends on the state.
- PT, Physical therapistPhysical therapistWithin scopeVestibular rehabilitation, including repositioning maneuvers for positional vertigo, is an established physical therapy service, and at least one practice act names vestibular training outright.
- PTA, Physical therapist assistantPhysical therapist assistantNot yet covered
- OT, Occupational therapistOccupational therapistVaries by stateOccupational therapists address dizziness and balance problems as they affect daily activities, and AOTA has a 2025 position statement on OT's role, but OT practice acts are written around daily function and do not name vestibular rehabilitation or repositioning maneuvers, so how far an occupational therapist may go depends on the state board's reading.
- OTA, Occupational therapy assistantOccupational therapy assistantNot yet covered
- AT, Athletic trainerAthletic trainerVaries by stateAthletic trainers assess vestibular and eye-movement function after concussion, and some states let them treat concussion during return-to-sport rehabilitation while others exclude neurological conditions, so whether they may provide vestibular rehabilitation depends on the state.
- LMT, Massage therapistMassage therapistNot typicalMassage therapy laws define massage as soft-tissue work and do not include vestibular rehabilitation or repositioning maneuvers.
- CSCS, Strength and conditioning specialistStrength and conditioning specialistNot yet covered
- CPT, Personal trainerPersonal trainerNot yet covered
What it is
The inner ear helps keep you balanced and your vision steady when your head moves. When it is damaged or irritated, people can feel dizzy, unsteady or sick with movement. Vestibular rehabilitation uses guided exercises for the eyes, head and body, along with balance and walking practice, to help the brain adjust.
A common cause of brief spinning dizziness when lying down or rolling over is loose crystals in the inner ear. A clinician can often treat this by moving the head and body through a set series of positions, such as the Epley maneuver, to move the crystals back where they belong.
Names across professions
| Profession | Term in practice acts | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Physical therapist | Vestibular training | Named in Delaware's physical therapy practice act |
| Physical therapist | Vestibular physical therapy | Term used in the APTA neurologic academy guideline |
| Occupational therapist | Vestibular rehabilitation | Used in AOTA's 2025 position statement title |
| Across professions | Canalith repositioning procedure | Maneuvers such as Epley and Semont for positional vertigo (BPPV) |
What the bodies say
Check your state
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Get licensed links to the board for each profession in each state, so you can read its rules or ask it directly.
Go to Get licensedState-by-state detail
This topic varies enough between states to warrant a state table, with the statute and board for each cell.