Vestibular Rehabilitation SIG
About Us
The Vestibular Rehabilitation Special Interest Group (VR SIG) is an extension of the APTA Neurology Section. Its membership focus is centered on supporting the practice of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants who treat patients with vestibular related disorders. By providing a network of collaboration and education the group fosters opportunities to highlight and build solid foundations of clinical practice to provide care and management of patients with balance and movement disorders relating to vestibular deficits.
Mission & Objectives
The mission of the Vestibular Rehabilitation special interest group (VR SIG) is to provide a forum for APTA Neurology Section members who have a common interest in the promotion of health, wellness, optimal function, and quality of life for individuals with balance and vestibular disorders. The VR SIG is committed to facilitating advances in physical therapy for patient management, education, research and health care policy that reflect the needs of those we serve.
COMMUNICATION
- Provide a network for clinicians, educators and researchers as a vestibular rehabilitation resource.
Inform the membership of SIG activities through the SIG newsletter. - Use the Neurology Section web site for exchange of information between SIG members and as an information resource for other health care professionals.
- Act as a liaison between SIG members and organizations with interest in vestibular rehabilitation.
RESEARCH
- Facilitate exchange of information that would impact the treatment of the vestibular patient between researchers and clinicians.
EDUCATION
- Provide educational programming with the Neurology Section to include topics of interest to SIG members.
- Update members regarding current research and treatment through the SIG newsletter and provide a forum for discussion of topics related to vestibular rehabilitation at APTA national meetings.
LEGISLATION
- Monitor and share information on reimbursement systems and the coverage policies for vestibular rehabilitation.
Leadership
Chair
Susan L. Whitney, PT, PhD, NCS, ATC
E-mail: whitney@pitt.edu
Vice Chair
Julie Tilson, PT, DPT, NCS
E-Mail: jktilson@earthlink.net
Secretary
Michelle L. Gutierrez, PT
E-Mail: mlgutierrez@zianet.com
Nominating Committee
Patricia A Farr Winkler, PT, DSc, NCS
E-Mail: pwinkler@regis.edu
Kenda S Fuller, PT, NCS
E-Mail: kendafuller@hotmail.com
Debbie Struiksma. PT, NCS
E-mail: DStruiksma77@aol.com
Newsletter Editor
Sharan Zirges, PT
E-Mail: sharan.zirges@gentiva.com
Elizabeth Grace, PT, MS, NCS
E-Mail: elizabeth.grace@uphs.upenn.edu
Practice Liaison
Col. Kim Gottshall, PT, PHD
E-Mail: kim.gottshall@med.navy.mil
News
Balance and Vestibular Rehabilitation: Practice & Billing Survey
The Vestibular Rehabilitation Special Interest Group (VR SIG), as part of the APTA Neurology Section, wishes to develop an ongoing mechanism to evaluate the practice and billing trends in Specialty Balance & Vestibular Programs and other future areas of practice. This survey of the membership will be used to determine the actual practice patterns versus the theoretic model presented at CSM 2008 and to determine the degree of consistency or inconsistency that currently exists within the membership. Formal survey of this specialty group will be completed in 2008 and the results summarized at CSM 2009 regarding current Practice and Billing Trends in Specialty Balance & Vestibular Programs. The questionnaire should take no longer than 10 -15 minutes to complete. Participate in the survey.
Position Confirms Physical therapists as Providers of Choice for Vestibular-Related Balance Disorders
The American Physical Therapy Association House of Delegates adopted a position to confirm current practice indicating that physical therapists are practitioners of choice in the rehabilitation and management of vestibular-related balance disorders.
Current legislative and practice environments have provided challenges for physical therapists to be recognized as practitioners of choice in caring for individuals with vestibular-related balance disorders, more so than with other practice settings for physical therapy, said the House. By adopting this position, APTA can influence and lend support to practitioners facing these practice issues, and provide an easily accessed and referenced position of the role of physical therapy in vestibular-related balance disorders. [RC 26-07]
Cochrane Report 2007
"There is moderate to strong evidence that vestibular rehabilitation is a safe, effective management for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction, based on a number of high quality randomized controlled trials." Read more
Contact Us
Susan L. Whitney, PT, PhD, NCS, ATC
E-mail: whitney@pitt.edu