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How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Vertigo
412.278.1221 | FRITZPHYSICALTHERAPY.COM
Do you find yourself getting dizzy doing everyday tasks? Do you find it hard to focus on one thing for long periods? Do you feel tired, lightheaded, or nauseous at any time of the day? If so, some of these can be signs of vertigo. At Fritz Physical Therapy, our physical therapists can evaluate your condition and help you find relief, sometimes in a matter of minutes! People who experience vertigo typically report an overwhelming sensation of feeling off balance. It can make someone feel dizzy, like you’re moving or spinning, resulting in a loss of balance. Some people experience problems focusing their eyes or have ringing in their ears. Call today to schedule an appointment! How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Vertigo
THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF VERTIGO
1. BPPV is essentially an inner-ear infection. This type of infection occurs when microscopic calcium particles called “canaliths” clump up in the inner ear canals. Your inner ear is responsible for sending gravitational messages to your brain regarding the movements of your body. This is how we remain balanced daily. When the inner ear canals are blocked, the correct messages cannot make it to the brain, and we become unbalanced – thus, causing vertigo. 2. Meniere’s Disease is a disorder of the inner ear caused by a buildup of fluid and fluctuating pressures within the ear. It has a similar effect as BPPV, as the fluid and pressure block messages from the inner ear canal to the brain, resulting in imbalance. Meniere’s Disease can cause tinnitus, commonly referred to as “a ringing of the ears,” and may even cause hearing loss in extreme cases. 3. Vestibular neuritis is also known as labyrinthitis. This is another type of inner ear infection, but it’s caused by a virus. The virus causes the inner ear and surrounding nerves to swell, resulting in difficulties with your balance due to discrepancies in the messages sent to the brain. Although the most common causes of vertigo are due to issues with the inner ear, some less common causes of vertigo include:
• Injury to the head or neck • Migraines • Medications
• Stroke • Brain tumor
Vertigo can sometimes go away on its own, however, it can also progress and worsen over time. If you believe you may have the symptoms of vertigo or one of its causes, it is essential to consult with one of our physical therapists immediately.
CALL US TODAY AT 412.278.1221
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapy is a standard treatment for vertigo, and our therapists at Fritz Physical Therapy are trained to help alleviate any vertigo symptoms you may be experiencing. Your physical therapist will ask you questions to identify the cause of your vertigo and use this information to design the best treatment. Your physical therapist will perform tests to determine the causes of your vertigo. In some cases, the tests will clarify what is going on and how to resolve it. For example, your physical therapist can test if you have Nystagmus, also known as “eye jerks.” This is the phenomenon of experiencing uncontrollable eye movements and is common with BPPV testing. Our physical therapists are movement experts. In addition to vertigo testing, they also will determine your risk of falling. Then, depending on the results, your physical therapist may recommend further testing or specific interventions to alleviate your condition and ensure you are safe. The exact treatments will focus on helping you get moving again and managing your vertigo simultaneously. Treatment may include specialized head and neck movements that you can be taught to do. If you still have dizziness and balance problems after vertigo stops, your physical therapist can target specific activities to address those problems.
THERAPEUTIC METHODS FOR VERTIGO
Vestibular rehabilitation focuses on the vestibular system, located within the inner ear. The goal of this kind of therapy is to rebalance your vestibular system. The vestibular system sends the gravitational messages to your brain about your body movements, and focusing on balance-specific exercises can help reset this system, thus diminishing the effects of vertigo. Canalith repositioning maneuvers focus on treatment-specific head and body movements for BPPV patients. These exercises help move the calcium deposits out of the inner ear canal to alleviate blockage and allow gravitational messages to be more easily received by the brain. As the backup shrinks, the symptoms of vertigo will lessen.
CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Physical therapy is essential to identify the correct exercises to relieve dizziness and vertigo and improve balance. We’ll provide relief for all of your dizzying symptoms! Contact us today to get started! Sources: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5954334/• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/ articles/PMC5806799/ •https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482356/ •https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ balance-disorders•https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-vertigo
Chocolate Peppermint Toffee
Ingredients: • 1 sleeve of Ritz Crackers (about 16 crackers) • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar • 1 cup chocolate chips • peppermint candy
Directions: Preheat your oven to 425˚ and line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper. Cover the bottom of the pan with crackers. Combine brown sugar and butter in a pan and bring to a boil. Boil for 3 min WITHOUT stirring. Immediately pour mixture over crackers in the pan and spread evenly. Bake for 5 min to thicken and set the caramel. Remove from oven and sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Place the pan back in oven for about 2 min or until chocolate is soft enough to spread. Immediately spread melted chocolate chips so that you have a nice even layer. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy. Cool completely then refrigerate for 2 hours or until hard enough to break apart.
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If you are suffering from arthritis and are ready to find relief, we are here for you. You can feel better by the end of the year. Call today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.
FRITZPHYSICALTHERAPY.COM
You bring the talent, we bring the expertise! The staff here at Fritz Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine is specialized in a variety of sports and activities. Bring your athletes to us for prevention of sports related injuries. We can detect where your body’s weakest links are hidden and help you unlock new athletic potential while reducing your likelihood of injury. As movement specialists, we play an important role in the rehabilitation of your sports-related injuries. Our dedicated team is trained in the specific art of dealing with sports injuries, and we’ll have you back to fighting form in no time! Call us today to schedule an appointment for yourself or the athlete in your life at 412.278.1221.
$25 Off Your Injury Prevention Screening!
CAN YOU HEAR WHAT YOUR BODY IS TELLING YOU?
The experts at Fritz Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine hear you loud and clear. Our Physical Therapists and staff know how to interpret the subtle changes in how a body bends, twists and moves that make one individual more likely to be injured than another. We can detect where your body’s weakest links are hidden and help you unlock new athletic potential while reducing your likelihood of injury.
To redeem your offer, Contact Fritz Physical Therapy at 412.278.1221.
No Doctor Referral Necessary Whether you want to come in for a check-up, suffered a recent injury or you want to improve your health, a doctor referral is not needed. In the state of Pennsylvania you have direct access to chiropractic care and physical therapy!
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