What are Vestibular Disorders / Vertigo?
Are you experiencing the sensation that the room is spinning around you? Do you feel like you are constantly on a boat or unstable ground? Do you have ongoing light-headedness or dizziness that may or may not have resulted in a loss of balance or a fall? Dizziness when rolling over in bed or changing positions? If you answered yes to any of these things you may be experiencing symptoms of a vestibular problem!
The vestibular system is a key component of your balance and stability. The vestibular system itself is comprised of the inner ear and the brain to control your balance and aspects of your vision. Issues can arise in different areas of the vestibular system causing you to feel unsteady, dizzy or lightheaded. The most common cause of dizziness and vertigo is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), but dysfunction within the inner ear or vision can also frequently cause these symptoms.
At Excel Physical Therapy, all of our therapists are Certified Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialists.
What Does this Mean?
A Certified VRS practitioner has mastery training in treating those with vestibular hypofunction, peripheral vestibular issues, and post-concussion pathology.
As with all of our assessments, we conduct a thorough evaluation to identify specific causes of your symptoms. With our higher-level training, we develop individualized treatment strategies to treat your specific vestibular issues. Vestibular treatment helps patients to manage and overcome dizziness, imbalance, and other vestibular symptoms all together.
Some Treatments May Include:
- Canalith Repositioning Maneuver
- Balance Retraining
- Gaze Stabilization Strategies
- Habituation Exercises
- Individualized Home Exercise Program
Have you ever suffered from a Concussion?
If you or someone you know has ever suffered from a concussion, you know the effects can be life altering. Most commonly, concussions occur from a traumatic impact injury and happen frequently in sports or car accidents. This trauma to the brain results in a cascade of effects that result in the common symptoms of concussions. Symptoms frequently include headaches, sensitivity to light and / or sound, confusion, poor balance, fatigue, sleep disturbances, dizziness, nausea, irritability, memory problems, emotional disturbances and personality changes. If you have any of these symptoms immediately following the initial injury or months later, you would benefit greatly from a skilled and trained physical therapist. Specific exercise programs, education, and vestibular rehabilitation are extremely important for those who have suffered a concussion. The therapists at Excel Physical Therapy are trained and ready to help you work through the effects you are experiencing and get you back to your sport or daily activities you enjoy with managed and recovering symptoms.