How Vestibular Therapy Can Help Stop the Spin

One minute, everything’s fine. The next, you turn your head–and suddenly the world seems to spin around you.

This sensation (called vertigo) can be definitely unsettling, especially since it often seems to come out of nowhere. It’s no surprise, then, that many people with vertigo will find themselves avoiding daily activities like walking or driving, worried that vertigo will strike while they’re out and about.

Fortunately, vertigo isn’t something you have to live with. The key to treatment is finding out why your vertigo is happening, something the team at Excel Physical Therapy is trained to do.

What Exactly Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is fairly common, but many people still have some misconceptions about it.

Firstly, although the two terms are often used interchangeably, vertigo and dizziness aren’t the same thing. Dizziness is a broad term that describes a range of sensations, such as feeling lightheaded, unsteady, or disoriented.

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that creates a false sensation of movement, usually spinning. Some people feel as if they’re the ones moving, while others feel like the room is moving around them.

The other thing to keep in mind about vertigo is that it’s not a condition in and of itself. Instead, it’s a symptom indicating your vestibular system is involved, which processes and controls your body’s sense of balance.

Uncovering the Cause of Your Vertigo

One of the most common causes of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). The name sounds complicated, but the problem is fairly straightforward.

Your inner ear contains tiny calcium carbonate crystals that help your brain detect movement and head position. If these crystals move out of position, they can send inaccurate movement signals to your brain. That mismatch can trigger short bursts of vertigo. Treatment is often a matter of using specific head maneuvers to guide the crystals back into place.

However, BPPV isn’t the only reason someone might experience vertigo symptoms. Other possible causes include:

A Targeted Approach to Treating Vertigo

Once the Excel Physical Therapy team understands the reason you’re experiencing vertigo, we can work with you to create a personalized treatment plan. Vertigo treatment typically involves vestibular therapy, a specialized form of physical therapy that addresses dizziness, balance problems, gaze stability, and other vestibular symptoms.

As with other types of physical therapy, your vertigo treatment will be tailored based on the specific factors contributing to your symptoms. The right approach for someone with BPPV will be very different from the approach for post-concussion vertigo, for example.

For this reason, vestibular therapy involves several targeted techniques, including:

• Gaze stabilization activities to improve your ability to keep your vision clear while your head moves
• Habituation exercises, which gradually and repeatedly expose you to controlled movements that trigger manageable symptoms, so your nervous system can become less sensitive to them.
• Balance training to improve steadiness during standing, walking, and everyday tasks
• Walking and functional training to improve confidence and stability during real-life activities
• Movement strategies and education to help you safely return to work, exercise, recreation, and daily routines

Don’t Let Vertigo Spin You Around

Vertigo can have a bigger impact on daily life than you might realize. It can disrupt your balance and leave you feeling unconfident as you move throughout your day. Worse, it can keep you from the activities you normally enjoy.

However, you don’t have to simply wait and hope the spinning goes away on its own. The team at Excel Physical Therapy can evaluate your symptoms and develop a personalized plan to help you feel steadier and move with greater confidence. Contact us today and take the first step toward getting your balance back.

Sources: National Library of Medicine (StatPearls) · PubMed

From inner ear issues to medications, dizziness (like vertigo) can have many causes. But there may be one cause you haven’t considered: your neck. When this happens, it’s known as cervicogenic dizziness.

How Can Your Neck Affect Your Balance?

Your brain relies on several sources of input to determine your body’s position in space, including your eyes, inner ear, and proprioceptors–specialized sensory receptors in your muscles and joints.

Your neck contains several proprioceptors that constantly send information to your brain about the position and movement of your head. But neck injuries, muscle tension, or other issues can sometimes disrupt this process. When this happens, your neck sends signals that no longer align with what your eyes and inner ear report, and the resulting sensory mismatch can lead to cervicogenic dizziness.

What Are Some Symptoms of Cervicogenic Dizziness?

• A sense of unsteadiness or imbalance
• Dizziness associated with neck movement or position
• Neck pain or stiffness
• Difficulty maintaining balance
• A feeling of disorientation

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapy is a great treatment option when your dizziness stems from neck-related factors. Our team will work with you to reduce pain while improving mobility, strength, and movement control. Treatment may include:

• Manual therapy
• Targeted exercise
• Balance activities
• Personalized management strategies

Get to the Source of Your Dizziness

Dizziness can be frustrating, but identifying the factors contributing to your symptoms can help guide appropriate care. If dizziness occurs alongside neck pain or neck restriction, you may be experiencing cervicogenic dizziness, and our team is here to help. Schedule an appointment to get started.

Source: National Library of Medicine