What Is Dizziness and How Do Physiotherapists Treat It?
Dizziness is often associated with the vestibular system. The vestibulars ystem is located in each of your inner ears and it sends sensory information to your brain which helps coordinate balance and eye movement. To maintain balance, you need information from your vision, proprioceptors in your muscles and joints and your vestibular system.
If disease or illness affects the vestibular system then certain disorders can occur, such as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Labyrinthitis, Vestibular Neuritis and Meniere’s disease.
Common causes for vestibular disorders include:
- Viral infection
- Trauma to the head
- Degeneration related to aging
- Toxins
- Tumors
- Loud noises
Common symptoms of vestibular disorders:
- Vertigo: spinning, whirling, feeling of movement
- Dizziness: light headedness, floating, rocking, unsteadiness
- Imbalance and Spatial Problems: difficulty walking, turning, balance. Lack of coordination. Sensitivity to changing walking surfaces.
- Visual Problems: difficulty focusing, tracking. Objects moving. Sensitivity to light. Busy environment may increase symptoms e.g. Shopping malls, crowds, theatres
- Hearing Problems: tinnitus, hearing loss, noise sensitivity
- Cognitive Problems: focusing, concentration, short term memory difficulty
- Other: psychological issues, nausea, vomiting, headache, motion sickness
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
Physiotherapists at Pro Motion Physiotherapy are trained in assessing and treating vestibular disorders. After a thorough and detailed assessment from one of our Vestibular Physiotherapists, treatment would be recommended that is specifically tailored to your condition.
Treatments Commonly Include:
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT): This is a progressive exercise plan used to rehabilitate the vestibular system through compensation
- Positioning Maneuvers: Your Physiotherapist can decrease symptoms from BPPV through certain maneuvers by dislodging the crystals in the inner ear. This treatment has a success rate of 90% in BPPV cases.
- Home Exercise: Balance retraining exercises can help with walking, bending, standing reaching or turning
If you have any of these symptoms, please call and ask to speak to one of our Vestibular Physiotherapists. We are pleased to offer complimentary 10 minute phone consultations to answer any questions you may have.
Our phone number is 905.731.1991. We look forward to hearing from you and the opportunity to assist you in your rehabilitation.
Derek Mernagh, Physiotherapist
Pro Motion Physiotherapy