WHAT ’S CAUSING YOUR BALANCE ISSUE? Whenyourvestibularsystem is impaired, thenecessarymessagesbecome 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: • Benignparoxysmalpositionalvertigo(BPPV). This isthemostcommon 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. HOW WILL PHYSICAL THERAPY HELP? 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. RX 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, whichallows forcanalithrepositioning tomove thebrokencalciumcrystals inpatientsexperiencingBPPV,aswellasCawthorneheadexercises,which focus on decreasing nerve sensitivity and improving vertigo.
• 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. • Vestibularneuritis. This isan inner-ear infectionthatcancausevertigo. • Migraines. Migrainescan impactyourvestibularsystem, thuscausing episodes of vertigo which may be coupled with sensitivities to light or sound. Vision may also be impaired. • Stroke. Astrokeaffectsmovement inyourwholebody. Ifyourecently suffered a stroke, you may experience waves of vertigo which may linger for extended periods of time. 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.
Videonystagmography is a highly specialized diagnostic tool for testing innerear functions.This testdetermineswhetheryourdizzinessorvertigo 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 RX Physical Therapy today to get started!
For more information about how RX Physical Therapy can help you, call us at 269.769.6108 or visit rxphysicaltherapy.com.
RUN RECOVERY WORKSHOP MONDAYS @ 11:00 AM
Are you experiencing pain or limited mobility while running? Are you looking for ways to improve your stride and keep your joints healthy and pain-free? You’re invited to take part in our Run Recovery Workshop every Monday at 11 am . We look forwarding to seeing you there! To learn more about this and other events happening at RX Physical Therapy, call our clinic at 269.769.6108 or follow us on social media @physicaltherapyrx.
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