How to Relieve Dizziness & Vertigo
How to Relieve Dizziness & Vertigo
Lisa (not her real name) was tired of dealing with dizziness. Specifically, she was tired of dealing with vertigo, a spinning sensation that would suddenly hit her at seemingly random times throughout the day. The attacks made her wary of driving, and she worried she might fall and injure herself at home.
But then Lisa learned something interesting: physical therapy can help with vertigo and dizziness. She had some experience with PT, having gone through rehabilitation after a shoulder injury, but it never occurred to her that PT might be the solution to her issues with vertigo.
Eager for relief, Lisa made an appointment at Excel Physical Therapy. We conducted a comprehensive assessment and found that she had BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). It develops when tiny crystals in the inner ear move into a special area of the vestibular system that senses movement.
We helped Lisa understand that her vertigo attacks weren’t as random as she thought. Instead, they occurred due to specific head movements that jostled the crystals. We helped identify those movements and performed some hands-on maneuvers that dislodged the crystals so they could no longer cause symptoms.
Because vertigo (and sometimes even dizziness) has a vaguely hallucinatory quality, people are often surprised to discover that its origins are due to physical or functional problems in the inner ear or brain that can be treated effectively in physical therapy.
To learn more, call to schedule an appointment.
Why Do We Feel Dizziness and Vertigo, Anyway?
First it is important to realize that dizziness and vertigo are not exactly the same thing.
Dizziness is an umbrella term that can refer to any feelings of lightheadedness or wooziness. Most of us have experienced dizziness: maybe you stood up too quickly or felt a headrush when you got off a roller coaster. It can have other causes, too, such as medication side effects or low blood sugar.
Vertigo is a type of dizziness. It often refers to a spinning sensation but includes a false or exaggerated sense of motion that can happen even when you are still. It occurs when there is an issue with the vestibular system which controls your body’s sense of balance.
The vestibular system is primarily located in your inner ear, although parts are also in your cerebellum. Most people who experience vertigo have inner ear issues, whether BPPV (the most common cause of vertigo) or another underlying condition, such as Meniere’s disease.
In some cases, vertigo might stem from issues in your cerebellum, although those are rare.
The Key Factor: A Personalized Approach
Physical therapy offers different options to help people manage their dizziness and vertigo. We always begin treatment with a comprehensive assessment to help us understand the root cause of your symptoms.
As with Lisa, we will determine the cause of the dizziness or vertigo and will directly treat the problem or use strategies to help the vestibular system adjust as quickly as possible, reducing or eliminating the symptoms of vertigo.
We’ll also perform specific movements and position changes to eliminate the cause of the vertigo, just as we did with Lisa.
Another way we help people with dizziness and vertigo is through dedicated balance training. Vertigo can be unnerving, but it’s not usually dangerous in and of itself. Instead, the danger comes from an increased fall risk. Balance training helps improve your overall balance and stability through progressive balance challenges and strengthening exercises, especially in the hips and ankles.
A Specialized Approach: Vestibular Rehabilitation
If your vertigo stems from an impairment in your vestibular system, we may suggest you begin a vestibular rehabilitation program. Vestibular rehab is a specialized type of physical therapy that focuses specifically on inner ear dysfunction. While your exact program will be personalized, it generally includes the following:
- Positional treatments to move the crystals away from the areas where they are causing problems
- Habituation exercises that help you become accustomed to the vertigo sensations so that they lessen over time
- Vision exercises to improve your gaze stability, which often plays a role in vertigo symptoms.
We’ll combine these specialized techniques with balance and conditioning exercises to ensure well-rounded treatment!
Can The World Stop Spinning?
Literally, no–but when you successfully manage dizziness and vertigo, it can certainly feel like it! Call Excel Physical Therapy today to find out if you might benefit from physical therapy.
Find Relief Now – Schedule Your Free Consultation!
Ready for personalized care?
Come back to Excel Physical Therapy and book your session today!
4 Benefits of Spring Cleaning
1. A clean home is better for your immune system
Mold, dust, and pet dander can accumulate in your home during the colder months when there is less opportunity for air circulation. A deep dive into spring cleaning helps to air out your home, preventing respiratory issues.
2. It’s an easy way to get active
Cleaning can be a real workout! From sweeping the floors to scrubbing tile to moving around furniture, spring cleaning can help you get active. Exercise has numerous benefits, including stress reduction and better heart health.
3. It lessens the possibility of injury
A cluttered home puts you, your children, or an elderly family member at risk of injury. Clearing out high-traffic areas and walkways can help to prevent falls, which can be especially dangerous for older individuals.
4. It improves concentration and mood
Studies show that a clean home positively affects your daily mood and ability to focus/complete tasks. Now that so many of us work from home, this has never been more important!
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Conquer Dizziness With Hannah!
“Dizziness is an umbrella term that describes many sensations. This could be vertigo (spinning), lightheadedness, a sensation of floating, brain fog or imbalance. Vestibular therapy is a type of therapy used to treat these conditions. Vestibular therapy includes gaze stabilization, habituation, balance training and treatment of positional vertigo. Some patients can feel better in as little as 1-3 sessions, with others seeing an improvement in 6-8 weeks!” Hannah Werner, DPT
Success Story
“Hannah was so kind and helpful. She took the time to listen to my needs and gave clear at home instructions. She really cared. I also gained the confidence to do more activities!”
—Melissa B.
Bob’s Speaking Engagement: Hearing Loss Association
Dr. Robert Runge recently served as the featured speaker at the Hearing Loss Association’s monthly meeting on March 10th, delivering an insightful presentation on “How PT Can Help with Vertigo.” The event, held at the Fox Valley Technical College Bordini Center in Appleton, WI, attracted a strong turnout of both in-person and online participants. Dr. Runge shared valuable knowledge on the role of physical therapy in managing vertigo, highlighting techniques and treatments that can improve balance and reduce dizziness.
Healthy Recipe:
Spring Veggie Tart
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 5 oz vegetable dip
- 6 baby zucchini, halved lengthwise
- 3-4 yellow squash, thinly sliced with a mandoline
- 1 bunch asparagus, thinly sliced lengthwise with a mandoline
- 1 1/2 c goat cheese
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Balsamic vinegar glaze
- Mixed herbs, to serve
Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking tray with baking paper. To make tart case, place pastry sheets side by side on the lined tray. Brush egg wash along the long edge of one sheet, then overlap with the other by 1” to create a large single sheet. Fold and pinch all four sides to make a 1” border, pushing down to seal. Brush border with egg wash. Using a fork, prick the base of the tart all over. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven and spread base of pastry with dip. Meanwhile, place vegetables in a large bowl. Pour boiling water over vegetables, steep for 1 min to blanch, then drain and pat dry with paper towel. Scatter vegetables over tart and crumble goat cheese on top. Drizzle with oil and vinegar glaze. Sprinkle with mixed herbs.
