The bespoke team wishes everyone a happy and fall free week during VeDA Balance awareness Week 2026 (13th to 19th september). We think it is pertinent to shine a light on this cause due to many of our clients suffering from balance disorders associated with their neurological conditions or having vestibular dysfunction. Furthermore, a number of our staff members have a special interest in the world of vestibular physiotherapy and likely utilise the principles of VRT in your sessions.
Balance Awareness Week is an annual global observance launched in 1997 by the VeDA (Vestibular Disorders Association) to bring visibility and understanding to invisible balance and vestibular disorders. Vestibular disorders are common and can be significantly disabling, yet they are often misunderstood, under-recognised, or misattributed to other causes. Symptoms may be intermittent or persistent and can have a substantial impact on a person’s mobility, independence, confidence, ability to work, and overall quality of life. For some people, ongoing dizziness or imbalance may also increase their risk of falls and limit participation in everyday activities.
Why participate?
Why we recommend participating in Balance Awareness Week 2026:
Raise Awareness: Help make vestibular disorders visible by educating others about these conditions and their impacts.
Support Research and Resources: Donations enable VeDA to fund critical research, provide valuable resources, and offer support to those affected.
Global Impact: By joining the efforts, we become a part of a worldwide movement to raise awareness and support for vestibular disorders.
What is VRT?
Here at Bespoke physiotherapy, we use Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) which is a specialised, exercise-based rehabilitation program designed to facilitate central nervous system compensation and improve function in individuals with vestibular dysfunction. Treatment is individualised according to the person’s clinical presentation and may include gaze-stabilisation exercises, habituation, balance and gait training, and strategies to improve the integration of vestibular, visual, and somatosensory information.
VRT is highly effective for a wide spectrum of vestibular and balance disorders. At Bespoke Physiotherapy we commonly treat the following conditions:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Utilizing canalith repositioning maneuvers (e.g., Epley, Semont) which often resolve symptoms in 1–3 sessions.
Vestibular Hypofunction: Unilateral or bilateral deficits resulting from vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, acoustic neuroma, or age-related degeneration.
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD): Managing chronic, subjective dizziness and motion sensitivity.
Vestibular Migraine: Addressing dizziness and motion intolerance in conjunction with medical management.
Post-Concussion Syndrome & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Treating complex gaze instability, motion sickness, and balance deficits following head trauma.
Cervicogenic Dizziness: Addressing dizziness arising from neck pain or cervical proprioceptive dysfunction.
Central conditions: Such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebellar Ataxia, and Parkinson’s Disease can be positively improved through VRT.
High risk of falls: Anyone with a high risk of falls can benefit from VRT.
Core Mechanisms of Treatment
Our tailored treatment plans focus on targeted neuroplastic retraining through:
Gaze Stabilization: Exercises (such as VOR x1) designed to improve the vestibulo-ocular reflex, reducing retinal slip and oscillopsia during head movement.
Habituation: Systematic, repeated exposure to specific motion or visual stimuli to desensitise the vestibular system and reduce motion-induced dizziness.
Balance and Gait Training: Static and dynamic challenges designed to optimize the integration of visual, somatosensory, and vestibular inputs, effectively reducing fall risks.
Education specific to their condition
We challenge you to take the 10-second challenge?
For Balance Awareness Week, we’re challenging people without vestibular disorders to put their balance to the test — and take a moment to think about what balance means for those who live with vestibular conditions and neurological conditions. Take the Balance Awareness Week 10-second challenge!
Stand on one foot with your arms crossed.
Close your eyes.
Try to stay balanced for 10 seconds.
Film your attempt and share it on social media using #BalanceAwarenessWeek.
Tag three people to take the challenge next!
Challenge a friend, family member, coworker, or healthcare professional. The more people who participate, the more people can understand the message that balance is something many of us rely on every day without ever thinking about it.
Safety first
Only attempt the challenge if it is safe for you. Stand near a wall, sturdy chair, countertop, or someone who can provide support. People with vestibular disorders, balance problems, dizziness, or other conditions that could make this challenge unsafe should not attempt it.
#balanceawarenessweek
For any of our clients or anyone that would like to review their balance and their balance associated exercises by our vestibular physiotherapists then please contact admin to arrange an appointment.
