What is vertigo?
Vertigo is a particular type of dizziness that makes you feel like your environment is moving around you, and it is often accompanied with feelings of nausea. Vertigo and dizziness are symptoms that can be related to a variety of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, anxiety, neurological disorders, visual deficits, viruses, or vestibular dysfunction.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Do you ever feel like the room is spinning around you, or do you feel dizzy and nauseous when you change positions and roll over in bed? Do you experience difficulty with balance or a fear of falling? If so, vestibular rehabilitation can help you.
What is the vestibular system?
The peripheral vestibular system involves the anatomy of the inner ear. Our inner ear detects static, linear, and rotational movements of our head. The vestibular system gives sensory information to our brain about where our body is in space, so it plays an important role in balance. It also communicates with our eyes, through the vestibulo-ocular reflex, to help stabilize our vision while our head is moving.
What is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)?
BPPV is a common, and very treatable, cause of vertigo which stems from the vestibular system. BBPV is when the crystals in the inner ear are dislodged and are free to move around inside the inner ear canals. The crystals move when your body changes position and they stimulate nerve cells that give your brain incorrect information about where your body is in space. This causes a sensation of vertigo, nausea, and abnormal eye movements. BPPV can easily be assessed and treated within only a few physiotherapy sessions. Since BPPV is benign, it can be assessed and treated at any time, even if you haven’t had an episode of vertigo that day. Treatment includes a variety of manual repositioning techniques, accompanied by a personalized home exercise program to improve your balance, decrease your symptoms, and increase your confidence to move through the world without fear of vertigo.
Who can help me?
Jennifer Mildon, one of our Physiotherapists at Diversified, has a special interest in vestibular rehab and has completed post graduate courses in Introductory and Advanced Vestibular Rehabilitation. If you experience any of the symptoms discussed above and are interested in having an assessment, please request a vestibular session with Jennifer when you contact the clinic. She kindly asks that you arrange travel plans so that you will not have to drive home after your session. You are welcome to bring a friend or loved one with you to your appointment. If you are still not sure whether or not vestibular rehab would benefit you, free five minute consultations are also available upon request. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
