Vestibular Group Fit is a comprehensive program designed to take a holistic approach to managing your vestibular disorder. Chronic vestibular symptoms do get better, and can be treated, always. That being said, there are many things that you may need to do or change in order to get there. Vestibular Group Fit (VGF) takes all of these facts into consideration and creates you custom programming based on your needs, diagnoses, and symptoms. Then, we start with The Basics. The Basics are the main focuses of VGF to really get down before moving forward with treatment. You will learn how to eat and hydrate, sleep better, change your mindset to break the dizzy-anxious-dizzy cycle, and more. All of this from the comfort of your own home, without any of the triggering head movements. Returning to function and getting your life back doesn’t have to be triggering, it can be gentle and consistent in order to be most effective.

A Vestibular disorder is a dysfunction of your vestibular system. First we need to back up, though. The vestibular system is your inner ear’s system of balance. You have 3 systems of balance, your vestibular system, the visual system, and proprioception. These 3 systems work together to provide optimal balance and equilibrium. Your vestibular system is deep within your inner ear and attached to the cochlea, which is your hearing organ. Just like with any other organ or bodily system, things can go wrong in the vestibular system. Learn more about how the system functions generally here.

There are 2 main factors that define vestibular disorders. The first is a peripheral vestibular disorder, which you can learn more about here, and is a disorder that occurs in the actual vestibular system itself. Then there are central vestibular disorders, click here to learn more, which occur in the brain but cause vestibular symptoms.

All you need to do is bring yourself! As you start with the strength training, you may need weights, but you may always use household items such as cans, bags loaded with subjectively heavy objects, or anything else you can find around the house.

No, you do not need Facebook to participate in VGFit. All exercises, information and resources included in VGFit are available on both The Vertigo Doctor website and on Facebook, within the VGFit group.

The only difference between the platforms is access to VGFit Community Discussion Group, which is only available on Facebook. While we encourage joining the FB community group to connect and share with other VGFit members, participation is completely optional.

No, Vestibular Group Fit (VGFit) is not the same as Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). They are different approaches but can complement each other in managing dizziness.

VGFit focuses on foundational exercises to help you feel better quickly, enabling you to participate in a VRT clinic and perform specific exercises without worsening your condition. VRT is a medical physical therapy practice involving exercises such as VORx1 or VORcX, which involve shaking or spinning your head or body.

As a vestibular therapist, Dr. Madison prescribes these VRT exercises, but they are not her first line of treatment for vestibular migraine. It is important to build a foundation by regulating your nervous system, balancing your blood sugar, and work on your mindset and more. By taking these steps first, you create a foundation that allows VRT to be more effective. Without this initial preparation, VRT might not be as successful or might not work at all.

This is completely up to you!

While you do not need a formal diagnosis to join VGFit, you should get clearance from your doctor before starting any new activity or exercise program. Before joining, we recommend being cleared for exercise, meditation, breathing exercises, and participating in a new program for your dizziness.

Dizziness comes from many different places and sources, the most common being a vestibular disorder. There are two groups that we can generally put dizziness and vertigo diagnosis into. The first are central disorders (brain and spinal cord) and the second are peripheral disorders (in the actual vestibular system). The most common central vestibular disorder is vestibular migraine, and the most common peripheral vestibular disorder is BPPV.

The best treatment for BPPV is a canalith repositioning maneuver, such as the Epley or BBQ Roll. The best treatment for Vestibular Migraine is a larger treatment plan that focused on lifestyle, mindset, movement, and more. That is precisely what we do in Vestibular Group Fit, provide you with everything you need to know about living with dizziness, from which doctors to see to how to move your body safely again.