Physiotherapy for Vertigo 

Some people confuse vertigo with dizziness since they are quite similar in many ways. However, they’re not exactly the same ailment. When somebody suffers from giddiness, unsteadiness, disorientation and light headedness they usually say they’re dizzy. With vertigo, it often feels as if the environment or the room is spinning around. The cause of this sensation is typically related to an inner ear (vestibular) problem with one of the most common being known as BPPV or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. 

Causes of Vertigo

However, vertigo can also be caused by a lack of blood flow to your brain, issues with the neck, concussion, or psychological problems. It’s believed that about half of all vertigo cases are caused by inner ear disorders though and the symptoms are made worse or triggered when moving quickly. Other symptoms can include the sensation of moving or rocking even though you’re perfectly still and they can last for hours or days at a time. 

But like many other ailments, vertigo can be caused by several other things including: tumours, strokes, the central nervous system, cervical spine problems, and Meniere’s disease. Doctors often perform a quick Dix-Hallpike test to determine if vertigo is the result of crystals in your inner ear (BPPV). If it is, the good news is that it can easily be treated through vestibular physiotherapy. 

Physiotherapy for Treating Vertigo

If you’d prefer to visit a physiotherapist before a doctor, our team of highly-trained professionals at Fit Physiotherapy will comprehensively assess your condition and be able to establish the cause of your symptoms. We can then create a personalized physiotherapy plan to help you get back to normal as soon as possible.

There are several ways to help relieve vertigo and these include habituation exercises, head and eye coordination exercises, gait and balance exercises, re-positioning techniques, and the Epley manoeuvre. Through vestibular physiotherapy, most vertigo sufferers will notice their balance, and overall physical functions have been greatly improved and their risk of falling is highly reduced. Vestibular physiotherapy may be treated at our clinic as well as techniques to use at home. 

Since all cases of vertigo are unique, it’s difficult to predict how long it will take before you notice an improvement in your condition but it’s typically within four to six weeks. This will generally depend on the severity of vertigo, how often you perform the prescribed exercises, and your overall physical and psychological condition. In most instances, patients will be required to perform their customized exercises three times a day. In addition, your therapist may suggest you stay active if possible and will develop a tailor-made program for your specific condition. 

FIT Physiotherapy

Vestibular physiotherapy is known to be a highly successful method of treating vertigo and dizziness. Vertigo can be treated by Fit Physiotherapy at our Newmarket location in a relatively short period of time. Our skilled team of therapists knows exactly how to treat the condition and its symptoms through specific types of vestibular physiotherapy. Contact us today to learn more.