Introduction

The vestibular system is responsible for balance, coordination, and maintenance of posture in the face of gravity. It is a bilateral system that is always on; the receptors in the inner ear send information to nuclei in the brainstem that project to higher centers in the brain and down to the spinal cord. It is the balance of inputs from both left and right inner ears that allows for us to be upright. If there is dysfunction anywhere along this system, there can be abnormalities in head or body posture, balance, and ambulation.