Vestibular Rehabilitation addresses dizziness and balance problems. The vestibular system refers to the sensory organ in the inner ear as well as it’s connections to the brain and eye muscles. This system senses head movements and it’s position in space.
Causes of vestibular dysfunction include virus, head and neck trauma-concussion-brain injury-stroke, aging and insidious (unknown causes). Symptoms of vestibular dysfunction include dizziness/vertigo, dysequilibrium, blurred vision with head movements, and abnormal sense of movement/orientation.
Physiotherapy assessment includes eye and head movements, balance and gait tests, motion sensitivity tests, neurological tests, and a comprehensive neck/head examination.
How can physiotherapy help with vestibular problems?
We start with a comprehensive assessment – to identify what is contributing to your vertigo, dizziness and imbalance. Then we provide customized treatment:
- Specific movements to treat blockages in semicircular canals
- Gaze stability exercises – training head movements whilst keeping the eyes in focus
- Exercises to desensitize movements that provoke your symptoms (habituation)
- Balance re-training exercises
- General fitness training to improve the ease of everyday tasks
- Musculoskeletal assessment and treatment as required to help assist your movement and ability to balance
- Education to help you understand your condition and how to manage it
Common causes of vertigo and dizziness
- BPPV – Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
- Labyrinthitis
- Vestibular neuronitis
- Vestibular migraine
- Neck related dizziness
- Vestibular hypofunction
- Concussion
