Vestibular Rehab

Where does vertigo and dizziness come from?

Whether you experience them independently or at the same time, dizziness and vertigo both stem from similar issues involving your inner ear and your vision tracking systems. Dizziness stems from a “disconnect” between these systems and your joints and muscles. Vertigo is believed to happen if the tiny crystals that are located in your inner ear become dislodged. This displacement leads to bouts of extreme disorientation when you move your head.

The causes of the inner ear disruptions resulting in dizziness or vertigo aren’t always known. Sometimes a head injury is the obvious culprit, while other times migraines, prolonged periods of lying down or even medication may result in the conditions.

PEOPLE SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST FOR VESTIBULAR PHYSIOTHERAPY IF THEY HAVE:

* Dizziness

* Nausea or vomiting

* Vertigo (feeling like the room is spinning)

* Feeling like you are rocking on a boat

* Feeling pulled to one side while walking

* Motion sensitivity/sickness

* Sudden onset of altered balance

PHYSIOTHERAPY TREATMENT FOR VESTIBULAR PROBLEMS INCLUDE:

*Techniques to reposition crystals within the inner ear

*Habituation exercises

*Static and dynamic balance exercises

*Eye exercises

*Grounding techniques

*Treating the neck

How does vestibular therapy help?

Vestibular therapy is a kind of physical therapy that is geared specifically to inner ear disorders. First, you’ll receive a complete evaluation. After all, dizziness and vertigo can impede people in many different ways, so it’s important to determine exactly how the problem is affecting your balance and movement.

Our highly trained team of physiotherapists will evaluate a number of factors, including reflexes, balance, leg strength and overall habits of movement. This allows us to put together an individualized treatment plan for you.

In many cases, patients receive instant relief from specialized head movements. These gentle adjustments are designed to dislodge crystals, when the problem is vertigo, or simply re-orient your senses, as with general dizziness. One or two sessions can often resolve the problem.

If additional treatment is needed, coordination and balance exercises will be part of your vestibular therapy. This training is devised to give you confidence in your ability to move without falling or stumbling, while also decreasing the symptoms of the vertigo or dizziness. In addition, the therapy will teach you how to maintain this ability on your own, which diminishes the risk of injury if future bouts of vertigo or dizziness occur.

Our expert physiotherapists have years of training in movement and balance analysis. Contact us to let you get back to being your best self.