What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?
Have you or someone you know experienced the feeling of dizziness before? It can be very unsettling.
Our experienced Hoppers Crossing Physiotherapists understand the uncertainty around this feeling of dizziness. We explain vestibular rehabilitation and what it involves in this article.
Firstly, the treatment of symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, motion sensitivity, balance and postural control issues that occur due to vestibular dysfunction could be a result of many things. Keep reading as we explain three common causes of dizziness or balance disturbances.
Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV)
The most common cause of vertigo is called benign positional paroxysmal vertigo or BPPV. BPPV happens when tiny particles in the balance centre of the inner ear are disturbed, caused usually by sudden movement. This causes the spinning sensation. It is a common problem that can affect people of all ages. Activities that bring on a dizzy spell can vary.
They often involve moving your head into a certain position suddenly, such as:
- Looking up
- Lying on one ear
- Rolling over in bed
- Getting out of bed
- Bending over
There are other causes of vertigo, including head injuries, stroke, circulation problems, infections, inner ear disorders, and the degeneration of inner ear structures.
Vestibular neuritis
The third most common cause of peripheral vertigo. It is due to inflammation of the vestibular component of the eighth cranial nerve. Vestibular neuritis is usually due to a virus. This can cause symptoms of vertigo, nausea and gait disturbances. Typically, it will only last a few days, however, occasionally persist for months requiring rehabilitation
Post-Concussion syndrome
People who have suffered a head strike can experience persistent symptoms that last up to 3-6 months. This is due to trauma to the brain. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, sensitivity to noise, ringing in the ears, reduced balance, difficulty concentrating, memory recall, depression and anxiety.
Do you suffer from Dizziness?
If you have symptoms of dizziness or unsteadiness at any time, you can speak to our Vestibular Physiotherapist for an assessment to have the cause diagnosed and treated. Our Vestibular Physiotherapist Nevine Eskander has worked in the musculoskeletal world of physiotherapy for over 24 years, with experience in managing a range of spinal and sports-related injuries. She has a special interest in vestibular/balance disorders and completed a Vestibular competency-based course at Monash University in 2020. As a result, Nevine has more than 12 years of experience and advanced training in Vestibular Rehabilitation.
If you want to book an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Hoppers Physio, Melbourne to start your rehabilitation journey!