HCE: Military Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation (MVAR), Beginner

July 21, 2025 to July 24, 2025

This Beginner course is appropriate for clinicians with limited (<2 years) vestibular experience evaluating and treating individuals with dizziness.

This course will feature didactic and laboratory instruction covering: introduction to peripheral and central vestibular anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology; assessment of the patient with dizziness; vestibular function testing; assessment and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo and other disorders of the peripheral vestibular system; clinical and instrumented tests and measures; rehabilitation techniques for the patient with dizziness; and special considerations and return to duty decision making for the military population.

HCE: Military Vestibular Assessment and Rehabilitation (MVAR), Beginner

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for physical therapists and occupational therapists. A certificate of attendance is available for other attendees.

Learning Objectives

Day 1: 

  1. Explain recent Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) report that describes vestibular coding within the active-duty population
  2. Describe normal vestibular ocular reflex (VOR) and impairments to the VOR and implications for symptoms
  3. Describe the process by which the body can compensate for an impaired VOR
  4. Perform a bedside screen for saccades, pursuit and vergence.
  5. Perform a cover/uncover test for ocular alignment
  6. Identify and name the nystagmus associated with a unilateral vestibular hypofunction

Day 2: 

  1. Describe the components of the bedside vestibular exam
  2. Identify normal vestibular function and signs of central dysfunction and peripheral vestibular dysfunction as seen during bedside vestibular testing
  3. Perform all components of a Vestibular Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) test
  4. Utilize info from VOMS test to categorize concussion subtype and to determine when referrals are appropriate
  5. List three subjective reports suggestive of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  6. Describe typical nystagmus pattern seen in posterior canal BPPV
  7. Perform an appropriate Dix-Hallpike Test and Canalith Repositioning Maneuver for posterior canal BPPV
  8. Perform an appropriate Roll Test for horizontal canal BPPV and determine side of involvement given Roll Test findings.
  9. Perform an appropriate Canalith Repositioning Maneuver for horizontal canal canalithiasis.

Day 3: 

  1. Discuss the current concepts of vestibular rehabilitation for peripheral disorders
  2. Discuss the implication of vestibular testing results performed by audiologists
  3. Discuss the implications of recent clinical practice guidelines for physical therapists
  4. Perform dynamic visual acuity (DVA) testing and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)
  5. Describe the five clinical subtypes of concussion and the two symptom modifiers for concussion
  6. List two items from a sleep hygiene program
  7. Explain the concept of multifactorial presentation in concussion
  8. Identify key features and domains of the Military Acute Concussion Evaluation 2 (MACE 2)

Day 4: 

  1. Describe modifications to treatment planning and communication style when treating patients with anxiety.
  2. Describe the co-morbid and often self-perpetuating role of dizziness and anxiety.

Additional Information

Virtual COPE Course ID #: 
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Virtual COPE Activity/Event #: 
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Live in person COPE Course ID #: 
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Live in person COPE Activity/Event #: 
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Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 23.00 AOTA

     DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider of professional development (PD). PD activity approval ID# 09615. This course is offered at 2.3 CEUs, . AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

  • 23.00 APTA

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Approved Provider of continuing education. This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive 2.3 APTA CEUs. The assignment of APTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by APTA. APTA CEUs are accepted by most state PT licensing boards. Learners are encouraged to check with their local chapter or state board to ensure that they accept APTA accredited courses for licensure renewal.

  • 23.00 Attendance
Course opens: 
07/14/2025
Course expires: 
08/07/2025
Event starts: 
07/21/2025 - 7:30am EDT
Event ends: 
07/24/2025 - 5:00pm EDT
Center for the Intrepid Academy
San Antonio, TX
United States

LTC Angela Weston, P.T. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Carrie Hoppes, P.T., Ph.D., NCS, OCS, ATC, CSCS. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Karen Lambert, P.T., D.P.T., NCS. Presenter has no relevant financial or non-financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Disclosure: DHA J-7 staff, planners, authors, faculty, and content reviewers for this educational activity have no relevant financial or non-financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Available Credit

  • 23.00 AOTA

     DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Approved Provider of professional development (PD). PD activity approval ID# 09615. This course is offered at 2.3 CEUs, . AOTA does not endorse specific course content, products, or clinical procedures.

  • 23.00 APTA

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Approved Provider of continuing education. This activity was planned by and for the health care team, and learners will receive 2.3 APTA CEUs. The assignment of APTA CEUs does not imply endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by APTA. APTA CEUs are accepted by most state PT licensing boards. Learners are encouraged to check with their local chapter or state board to ensure that they accept APTA accredited courses for licensure renewal.

  • 23.00 Attendance
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Requirements: CE/CME certificates are awarded to participants who fully complete the activity, successfully submit the evaluation survey, and pass the posttest. The deadline to claim credit is Aug 7, 2025.

Access Code: Some activities require an access code to register or claim credit. Please contact the organization providing the activity for the access code. The Continuing Education Program Office (CEPO) does not provide access codes.

Accommodations: Please contact the course instructor to inquire about accommodations. For additional technical support, email [email protected].

Required Hardware/software