Dr. Janine DeBrito is a dedicated and passionate physical therapist with nearly 20 years of clinical experience. She is an advanced specialist in vestibular rehabilitation and has been treating patients with a variety of neurological and vestibular diagnoses (inner-ear and brain balance disorders) for 16 years.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a specialized type of physical therapy that alleviates problems caused by vestibular system disorders most commonly vertigo, dizziness, gaze instability, imbalance and falls. The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and the brain that process the sensory information that controls balance and eye movements. When these information processing areas are injured or affected by a disease, disorders of dizziness and balance can result.
Dr. DeBrito graduated with honors from Misericordia University where she earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Masters of Science in Physical Therapy and her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degrees. She was awarded the Outstanding Physical Therapy Student Award which is given to a graduating PT student who demonstrates exemplary potential for success in the profession. Dr. DeBrito then went on to work at JFK Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, NJ where she saw a variety of patients with orthopedic and neurological diagnoses across several departments including outpatient, inpatient rehab and acute care. She participated in a weekly Balance Clinic at the JFK Neuroscience Institute evaluating patients with disorders of dizziness and imbalance. In this clinic, her love of vestibular disorders and VRT began. Dr. DeBrito began taking continuing education coursework in VRT and developing her professional skills in diagnosis and treatment of patients with these problems.
In 2010, she received her specialist certification in Vestibular Rehabilitation after successfully completing the Vestibular Competency Course presented by Emory University School of Medicine and the APTA in Atlanta, GA. She served as hospital-wide clinical consultant developing inservices and competency coursework for training physical therapy staff and students in VRT. Dr. DeBrito also served on the faculty of the JFK Professional Development Series Conference: “Dizziness: Evaluation, Management, and Rehabilitation.”After leaving JFK in 2013, Dr. DeBrito went on to manage several physical therapy clinics as the Director of Vestibular Rehabilitation. She successfully developed and implemented VRT programs while serving as a clinical consultant, working closely with doctors, audiologists, nurses, medical assistants, and other PTs/PTAs to coordinate patient care. She developed VRT protocols for treatment and documentation and trained all physical therapy staff in VRT. She also served as a guest lecturer at the Movelle Lecture Series at Riverview Medical Center in RedBank, NJ educating doctors, nurses, and therapists on BPPV, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, which is the most common cause of vertigo.
Most recently in April 2023, she received her Advanced Vestibular Physical Therapist Certification from the University of Pittsburgh, and in July 2023 she became a Certified Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) after passing the Neurologic Clinical Specialist Examination.
Dr. Dizzy DeBrito, as her patients refer to her, understands what individuals with dizziness, nausea and imbalance are going through. Dizziness and vertigo are some of the most commonly diagnosed, yet often misdiagnosed, symptoms of a condition. Some people go months or years with the wrong treatment, wasting both recovery time and money, or just being medicated after going from doctor to doctor trying to figure out a diagnosis. Dr. DeBrito knows how important it is to start the journey of recovery with a specialist who knows exactly how to identify the vestibular problem and how to optimally treat it. She is passionate about helping her patients on the road to recovery and to living their best lives. Dr. DeBrito was born and raised in New Jersey and recently relocated to South Florida.
She is licensed in both Florida and New Jersey and provides Telehealth in both states as well as in-person visits in Florida. She loves that her mobile practice and Telehealth services can reach so many more patients who would otherwise not be able to find a specialist in VRT in their area, or are unable to commute for treatment due to their symptoms.
LOCATIONS SERVED IN FLORIDA:
Boca Raton • Coral Springs • Deerfield Beach • Delray Beach • High Point • Margate • Parkland • Pompano Beach • More
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Janine has a love of horses and in her spare time performs English saddle riding. She would like to own her own horse one day. A runner and soccer player for all of her life, Janine enjoys watching professional soccer and is always up for watching sports like basketball, hockey and football. She enjoys spending time outdoors running, biking, and at the beach. Music has always been a passion for Janine and she began a love of singing at 6 years old. She took classical piano lessons for 8 years, and sang competitively throughout her entire elementary, middle and high school education.
In her retirement from singing formally, she never passes up an opportunity to sing karaoke. Janine is originally born and raised in New Jersey, but moved to her happy place in Florida in 2020. She lives in South Florida in Parkland with her 2 sons: 8 year-old, Lucas, and 2 year-old, Damian, and her husband, Carlos.
Dr Janine Debrito is an amazing Dr. She is one of the most caring, attentive, and knowledgeable Dr.s that I have worked with. She was able to help me and give me all the information I need to help alleviate symptoms as well as the comfort to know that she is there when I need her for emergency issues dealing with vertigo episodes. I am so glad I have found her.
Robyn, Sep 22Janine is awesome!
Monique, Sep 22Janine was extremely patient and knowledgeable. Some strenuous exercise s with ease Within a day or so I felt extremely better. I would recommend her highly. Even her follow up was incredible. Very engaging.
Joan, Nov 19I am extremely grateful to Dr. DeBrito for helping me recover from Vestibular Neuritis. It was such a traumatic and disorienting experience to go from being healthy one day to suddenly spinning and vomiting for 2 days. It was even more upsetting to be sent home from the hospital with no treatment and still experiencing visual disturbances, and completely disoriented with movement. I remember becoming nauseous from just scrolling on my computer for work. To say the least, this impaired my ability to work, and I felt hopeless. Out of desperation, I started searching online for treatment options for my symptoms, and on a leap of faith found Dr. Debrito. After reading her bio, I knew she had so much experience with treating patients with the symptoms I was experiencing that if anyone could help me she could. While I still felt discouraged, her patience, enthusiasm, and expertise kept me going to commit to my prescribed exercises. It was so exciting when I began to experience improvement. I remember her telling me that I'd make a full recovery and not feeling 100% sure. But, I can say confidently now 8 months from the onset of my symptoms, I am 100% symptom-free. While my insurance didn't cover my rehab, this is the best money I have ever spent to get my life back. I'm forever grateful for Dr. DeBrito. I'm confident I wouldn't have recovered as quickly as I did had I not been able to get into treatment with her.
Erika, Dec 30Being in the medical field, i was a bit skeptic as to what will i gain from the therapy that she will be offering....nonetheless i gave it a try and from the very first encounter i had with Dr. Janine i knew she will impart to me a therapy that would alleviate me from my "Rt sided dizzines" She does not only exceed in her expertice but she has her way of making the uncomfortable a bit comforting..Her turturing and pushing to do it faster was an ordeal but it pays a lot and true enough it benefits me the most...I know i have to do more, push a bit more to the common goal... i felt so comfortable with her eventhough i wanted to give up....in the end, i gained what i worked hard, i did withstand the ordeal that she let me into and with a promise that i will reach my goal if not exceed it as well. Good luck Dr. Janine, we will keep in touch
ilyn, Jan 03Dr. DeBrito is a true miracle worker for me. I began my first session in July 2022 with a desire to improve my vertigo conditions (slow orbit of the room, regular dizziness, exasperated by motion ie trains, cars, planes) before leaving for grad school in the fall, and she designed a home exercise kit that helped me within weeks. I was let down at first because, as Dr. DeBrito forewarned, the exercises made me feel worse before I felt better as I practiced. This was most definitely to be expected, and if this happens to you, don't give up, and be patient--you have to literally keep moving. Once my system adjusted to the exercises after a couple of weeks, we pushed a little harder...and harder, and now I still make sure, even with a full college and work schedule, to practice my homecare for 30 minutes every night. I've never felt better! Thank you, Dr. DeBrito!
Joseph, Aug 19Working with Dr. DeBrito has been a very positive and pleasant experience. You can tell she truly cares about her patients, by the way she provides so much time and attention during 1-on-1 sessions as well as checking in in between sessions. Not only is she very kind and personable but she is also an expert in her field. She knows the right questions to ask and always had the answers to questions I asked. During our 4 months together, I made good progress and achieved improvement in my symptoms. I would highly recommend seeing Dr. DeBrito.
Robert, Dec 20Dr. Janine DeBrito was the best, she performed the right maneuvers to get rid of my vertigo and imbalance, she made me feel comfortable and less terrified with this condition that is super common! And best part is that it was done in the comfort of my own home 1 on 1, thank you so much Janine
Laura, Feb 12