Relieve Your Dizziness and Vertigo
Have you noticed you are not as steady as you used to be? Do you notice that dizziness makes you feel less balanced? No matter your age, you can improve your balance. At Rebound Physical Therapy, we can help you figure out what is causing your vertigo and/or dizziness and, more importantly, how to resolve it!
Balance is a big deal but we take it for granted. Your balance system is incredibly complex and allows you to walk around obstacles without thinking. However, it can be challenging to perform daily tasks and activities you enjoy when your balance is affected. If you’ve been feeling dizzy, or you think you may have some of the symptoms of vertigo, call Rebound Physical Therapy today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced physical therapists.
What Is Causing Your Dizziness and/or Vertigo?
Dizziness is a general term used to describe a sense of unsteadiness that may be due to a lack of sleep, poor nutrition, overexertion, or a physical ailment (i.e., a head cold or the flu). Dizziness can also occur from something as simple as standing up too quickly after an extended period of rest.
Some accompanying symptoms of dizziness may include:
- Loss of balance
- Lightheadedness or heavy-headedness
- Momentarily impaired vision
- Feeling unsteady or faint
Vertigo is the result of an issue in your inner ear, also known as the “vestibular system.” Your vestibular system helps you maintain your balance and center of gravity by sending messages to your brain regarding your movement.
When the vestibular system is impaired, the messages to your brain are altered, 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, or you can’t stand/move appropriately without feeling like you’ll topple over.
Some common causes of vertigo include:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This is the most common 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.
- 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 loss.
- Vestibular neuritis. This is an inner ear infection that can cause vertigo.
- Migraines. Migraines can impact your vestibular system, and may be coupled with sensitivities to light or sound, or may also impair your vision.
- Stroke. A stroke affects movement in your whole body. If you recently 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
- Sweating
- Abnormal eye movements
- Nausea or vomiting
- Arm or leg weakness
- Difficulty seeing or speaking
How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Balance
Dizziness and vertigo can hinder your balance, limiting your ability to perform even the simplest of tasks. Luckily, no matter the cause, physical therapy for dizziness and vertigo can help.
At Rebound Physical Therapy, our therapists have some of the most advanced techniques for diagnosing and treating dizziness and vertigo, including vestibular rehabilitation and videonystagmography.
Our physical therapists will perform a proper physical examination and take a thorough medical history to ensure we provide a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan.
The primary goal of the assessment is to identify the specific cause of your dizziness and use a combination of manual therapy, balance exercises therapy, posture corrections, and education to help you resolve your condition.
The most common treatments will focus on:
- Reducing vestibular symptoms through specific head and body movements and positions. These movements help to remove the calcium deposits from the inner ear to alleviate dizziness.
- Balance exercises and vestibular rehabilitation. Specific balance exercises and particular activities focus on decreasing nerve sensitivity and reducing the effects of vertigo.
- Postural education to optimize function.
Our therapists may use videonystagmography to determine whether a vestibular disease is causing your dizziness or vertigo. It is the only test available to decipher whether there is a vestibular loss in one or both ears. This non-invasive test uses infrared goggles to record a patient’s eye movements to determine how well the patient can react to visual stimuli responses sent from the vestibular system.
If you believe you may be experiencing vertigo, contact us today. We’ll provide relief for all of your symptoms.
Call to Make an Appointment
Physical therapy is essential to identify the correct exercises to relieve dizziness and vertigo to improve balance. Contact Rebound Physical Therapy today to get started!
Meet Steve King
Steve was born and raised in Southern California, where he developed a love for sports and knew from a young age that he wanted to pursue a degree in physical therapy. While earning his degree, Steve won four National Championships in Handball. His passion for sports led him to help people with orthopedic injuries.
After completing his degree, Steve moved to Northern California and married his wife, Deb. Together, they raised three children and now have three grandchildren. Steve spent over 30 years working in orthopedics before retiring and moving to Idaho. However, his desire to work and his love for helping people brought him back to the field of physical therapy. In his free time, Steve enjoys working in the yard, hiking, and reading.
Recipe of the Month: Pumpkin Pie Overnight Oats with Chia
Ingredients:
1/4 cup plain nonfat greek yogurt (or use vanilla!)
1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk)
1/4 cup pumpkin puree
1-2 tbsp pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup rolled oats (gluten free if desired)
2 teaspoons chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Directions:
In a medium bowl, mix together greek yogurt, almond milk, pumpkin puree, vanilla and 1 tablespoon maple syrup until well combined.
Stir in oats, chia seeds and pumpkin pie spice. Taste and add more maple syrup if you want it sweeter.
Pour into a glass jar or container and place in fridge for 4 hours or overnight. Makes 1 serving of pumpkin overnight oats.
Our Patients Get Great Results
“I’ve been a patient with Rebound Physical Therapy for over a year now and have thoroughly enjoyed my experience through the process of healing and recovery. Every meeting I’ve had has been fun and friendly, even when the work was hard! Steve is incredibly thorough and thoughtful, and I appreciate everything he has done to help me. If I’m ever needing physical therapy again, I will be coming back! Thank you so much!” — L.K.
What is Vestibular Therapy?
The second most commonly reported complaint within doctors’ offices is dizziness and loss of balance. In fact, 76 million Americans will experience some sort of dizzy spell or vertigo at some point in their lives. These are both extremely common conditions that can affect your equilibrium, making you feel off balance. Symptoms can vary from acute to chronic and in some severe cases, they can even be indicators of serious health risks.
Video Tip Of The Month
At Rebound Physical Therapy, we provide vestibular therapy for our patients suffering from balance disorders. Balance disorders refer to a broad range of conditions, but they are all connected by the effect they have on the vestibular system, also known as the inner ear.
Some common balance disorders that we treat through vestibular therapy include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Meniere’s disease
- Vestibular neuritis
- Migraines
Vestibular therapy, also referred to as vestibular rehabilitation, is conducted through a process of “adaptation and compensation.” This means that the vestibular system is actually being “reprogrammed” through both passive and active therapies to form connections with the brain on adjusting imbalances and regaining stability. If your dizzying symptoms are holding you back from living your normal daily life, contact Rebound Physical Therapy to schedule an appointment with one of our physical therapists. Our specialized services will help you get back on your feet as quickly as possible.
