STAR Physical Therapy Newsletter
July, 2020 NEWSLETTER
FIND BALANCE ONCE AGAIN BY RELIEVING YOUR DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO
Balance is a big deal in our everyday world, but we take it for granted. Just think how long it took you to master walking, running, and jumping as a child. Your balance system is incredibly complex, and allows you to walk around over steps, and obstacles without thinking. However, when balance is affected, it can be difficult to perform daily tasks and activities you enjoy. (continued inside)
ALL OUR CLINICS ARE OPEN AND FOLLOWING CDC GUIDELINES
starptclinics.com Covington Slidell Mandeville Lacombe Folsom New Orleans East Gentilly / Lakefront Algiers
NEWSLETTER
July, 2020
FIND BALANCE ONCE AGAIN BY RELIEVING YOUR DIZZINESS AND VERTIGO
(continued from outside)
Your vestibular system helps you maintain your balance and center of gravity by sending messages to your brain regarding your movement. When this is impaired, the necessary messages become blocked from your brain, and your movement becomes affected. You may feel as if the world is spinning around you, you can’t focus your vision for prolonged periods of time, or you can’t stand/move properly without feeling like you’ll topple over. Some common causes of vertigo include: • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This is the most common cause of vertigo. It occurs when the tiny calcium crystals located in your ears break apart and move around to different parts of the ear that they are not supposed to be in. This can cause sudden spinning sensations (vertigo) and inner-ear discomfort. • Meniere’s disease. This occurs when fluid builds up in your ear(s). This typically includes “ringing” sounds in the inner-ear and sudden waves of vertigo that may last for hours. You may also experience momentary hearing losses. • Vestibular neuritis. This is an inner-ear infection that can cause vertigo. • Migraines. Migraines can impact your vestibular system, thus causing episodes of vertigo which may be coupled with sensitivities to light or sound. Vision may also be impaired. • Stroke. A stroke affects movement in your whole body. If you recently suffered a stroke, you may experience waves of vertigo which may linger for extended periods of time.
Balance with Matt Slimming, PT, DPT
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Thirty million older adults fall each year—resulting in about 30,000 deaths. Each year, 3 million older adults are treated for a fall injury. One out of every five falls causes a serious injury, such as broken bones or a head injury.”
Matt Slimming Physical Therapist
Dizziness and vertigo are common reasons why someone may experience issues with balance or sustain an unexpected fall. We’ve all had the sensation of being dizzy - as if you can’t focus, can’t see straight, can’t stand upright without swaying or falling. You may even experience “tunnel vision,” where your peripheral vision goes dark for a few seconds. Dizziness is common and can have many causes. Vertigo, however, is a little different. While dizziness is typically synonymous with “lightheadedness,” which creates the illusion of being unsteady, vertigo is typically a response to a physiological factor that is causing a quite literal imbalance in your body. Those experiencing vertigo have reported feeling as if they are “rocking” or “spinning,” even when they are sitting still. Physical therapy for dizziness and vertigo is a common and effective course of treatment. For inquiries regarding vertigo testing, don’t hesitate to contact Star Physical Therapy. If you’ve been feeling dizzy, or you think you may have some of the symptoms of vertigo, call our office today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physical therapists. Why is my balance compromised by dizziness and/or vertigo? Just a few of the many factors that can lead to dizziness include lack of sleep, poor nutrition, overexertion, or a physical ailment, such as a head cold or the flu. Dizziness can also occur from something as simple as standing up too quickly after an extended period of rest. Some accompanying symptoms to dizziness may include: • Loss of balance • Lightheadedness or heavy-headedness • Momentarily impaired vision (i.e. tunnel vision) • Feeling woozy or faint The causes of vertigo aren’t nearly as vast. In fact, vertigo is most commonly caused by an imbalance in the inner ear, also known as the “vestibular system.”
Some accompanying symptoms to vertigo may also include: • Inability to focus or remain alert • Double vision
• Nausea or vomiting • Arm or leg weakness • Difficulty seeing or speaking • Sweating • Abnormal eye movements
CALL A CLINIC NEAREST YOU TODAY!
starptclinics.com
HOW WILL PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP YOU? Dizziness and vertigo can both hinder your balance, limiting your ability to perform even the simplest of tasks. Luckily, no matter what the cause may be, physical therapy for dizziness and vertigo can help. Star Physical Therapy has some of the most advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating both dizziness and vertigo, including vestibular rehabilitation and videonystagmography.
Vestibular rehabilitation includes treatments such as the Epley maneuver, which allows for canalith repositioning to move the broken calcium crystals in patients experiencing BPPV, as well as Cawthorne head exercises, which focus on decreasing nerve sensitivity and improving vertigo. Videonystagmography is a highly specialized diagnostic tool for testing inner ear functions. This test determines whether your dizziness or vertigo is being caused by a vestibular disease, and it is the only test available that can decipher whether there is a vestibular loss in one or both ears. It is a non-invasive test that uses infrared goggles to record a patient’s eye movements, thus determining how well the patient is able to react to visual stimuli responses that are being sent from the vestibular system. Physical therapy is very important to strengthening joints and learning the right exercises to relieve dizziness and vertigo, in order to improve balance. A professional can help you develop a program that plays into your strengths while increasing your ability to balance and reduce bouts of unsteadiness.
Contact Star Physical Therapy today to get started!
Sources: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dizziness/symptoms-causes/syc-20371787 https:// www.moveforwardpt.com/SymptomsConditionsDetail.aspx?cid=8faba487-14c0-482e-9280-c655e1776ebe https://www.google.com/search?q=cdc+balance+statistics&oq=cdc+balance+statistics&aqs=chrome..69i57 .3980j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Clinic Update
Patient Success Spotlight
“Thank you to everyone here...”
During the Covid shutdown, almost all our clinics remained open. Thanks to all our dedicated staff who put themselves on the front lines, caring for patients and doing their part to keep people out of hospitals. Together, we all helped flatten the curve. In addition, our teams in Covington and Lacombe worked hard, painting walls and prepping for a brand new floor and decor in Covington. Way to go team!
Success Story: Linda W. “When I came to therapy the first time, I was using a walker to get around. Then I was able to use a cane for a while. Now I am able to walk over uneven ground to pick up vegetables from my garden without assistance. Getting in and out of the shower used to be a major challenge for me. I do still use my shower bench while bathing, however they are so much easier now. Thank you to everyone here: Jerome, Kristy and Miranda for being so friendly and helpful in answering all of my many questions, listening to my many complaints and helping me reach my goals. ”
CALL A CLINIC NEAREST YOU TODAY!
Refer A Friend
Star PT Workshops!
Do You Have Friends Or Family Unable To Do The Following:
LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR UPCOMING WORKSHOPS ON OUR WEBSITE!
� Sit for long periods comfortably � Walk for long distances � Live a healthy lifestyle
� Move without pain � Bend and move freely � Balance confidently & securely
Be sure to stay up to date on new Star PT Clinics workshops by visiting our website! Just look for the “Workshops” tab or scroll down to find the section pictured above! starptclinics.com
Who Do You Know That Needs Our Help?
If you know someone suffering with aches and pains give the gift of health. Refer them to Star Physical Therapy today. Pass along this newsletter or have them call us directly to schedule an appointment.
UPCOMING STAR PT CLINICS WORKSHOPS
Exercise Essentials Try this movement to help relieve knee pain.
Relieve Knee Pain
www.simpleset.net
BALANCE & DIZZINESS www.starptclinics.lpages.co/balance-and-dizziness-workshop-registration/
STRAIGHT LEG RAISE While on your back as shown below, keep your knee straight and lift your leg up while leaving the other foot flat on the surface with knee bent. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat 20 times.
7/14 @ 6:30 PM MANDEVILLE CLINIC 7/16 @ 6:00 PM SLIDELL CLINIC 7/21 @ 6:30 PM LAKEFRONT CLINIC 7/23 @ 6:30 PM ALGIERS CLINIC
7/16 @ 6:30 PM NEW ORLEANS EAST CLINIC 7/21 @ 6:30 PM COVINGTON CLINIC 7/22 @ 10:00 AM STAR FITNESS CENTER ALL WORKSHOPS ARE FREE! CALLTODAY!
starptclinics.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog