Vestibular Physical Therapy

Vestibular Disorders occur when a disease or injury damages the vestibular system. Makovicka Physical Therapy has experts trained and ready to help you deal with these issues. Here are some of the most common questions, and information to help you learn more.

What are Dizziness and Vertigo?

Dizziness can be described as lightheadedness, rocking, floating, or feeling off.

Vertigo is a perception of movement, spinning or whirling.

Why do I have Dizziness and/or Vertigo?

There are many causes of dizziness and vertigo. Common Vestibular (inner ear) disorders that cause dizziness and vertigo are:

• BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
• Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis
• Vestibular Migraines
• Meniere’s Disease
• Age-related dizziness and Imbalance
• Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injury
• Cervicogenic (originating from the neck)

What other symptoms might I experience?

Symptoms you might experience from a vestibular disorder include, vertigo, dizziness, difficulty balancing and walking, difficulty steadying your gaze, fogginess, ear fullness, tinnitus, vision and hearing impairment, nausea, motion sensitivity, anxiety, and depression, etc.

Why is good balance important?

Maintaining good balance relies on information received by the brain from the eyes (vision), muscles and joints (proprioception), and the inner ear (vestibular organs). Difficulty with any of these systems can make you feel unbalanced and places you at risk of falling.

How can Physical Therapy help?

A physical therapist can take a thorough history of your symptoms and perform a detailed evaluation including the use of video goggles to find the cause of your symptoms. Then a customized treatment plan will be established to help you reach your goals. Vestibular therapy is designed to help you:

• Improve balance and mobility
• Desensitize the brain to movement and reduce dizziness
• Improve gaze stability
• Increase strength and endurance
• Improve overall activity level to get you Back In The Game!

What kind of activities in physical therapy are beneficial?

Treatment may include patient education, walking and balance training, eye exercises to improve gaze stability, habituation exercise to return you to the movements that are giving you symptoms, repositioning maneuvers to reposition crystals out of place in the inner ear, treatment to the neck, strengthening, providing helpful resources, and a home program. Our experts at Makovicka Physical Therapy will collaborate with your primary care physician, ENT, neurologist, and/or audiologist to ensure you receive the best outcomes possible.

Contact our clinics to learn more about Vestibular Services at Makovicka Physical Therapy!