Vertigo: Regaining Balance

If you’re experiencing dizziness or vertigo, you know that it can interfere with your quality of life.  Vertigo in itself is a symptom – not a disease.  However, that dizzy spinning feeling often leaves you feeling off balance and hinders your ability to do the things that you want.  

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness characterized by the sensation of spinning or whirling, even when you’re stationary. It often creates a false sense of movement, where you might feel like you or your surroundings are rotating, tilting, or moving when, in fact, they are not. This sensation can be intense and disorienting, leading to a loss of balance and sometimes even inducing nausea or vomiting.

Causes of Vertigo

There are two types of vertigo, peripheral and central.

Peripheral vertigo is the most common type. It happens when there’s an issue with your inner ear or vestibular nerve.

Central vertigo is less common. It occurs when you have a condition affecting your brain, like an infection, stroke or traumatic brain injury. People with central vertigo usually have more severe symptoms like severe instability or difficulty walking.

If you are experiencing severe or recurrent vertigo, or if your symptoms are significantly impacting your daily life, seeking evaluation by a medical professional, whether a primary care doctor or a specialist, is recommended. They can help determine the underlying cause and guide you toward the most effective treatment options.

Can Physical Therapy help?

You might not immediately consider physical therapy to treat your dizziness symptoms.  However, frequently this is a very effective, safe and non-invasive treatment option, especially when it is caused by a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). BPPV occurs when small calcium particles in the inner ear become dislodged and affect the balance sensors.

There are many physical therapy techniques available to treat and manage your dizziness symptoms. A physical therapist will assess the individual’s specific condition and develop a personalized treatment plan based on the underlying cause of vertigo. Additionally, your physical therapist will provide general education about the condition, proper techniques for exercises, and guidance on performing exercises at home.

Here are some common physical therapy approaches:

1. Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers (Epley Maneuver, Seumont Maneuver):
   • These maneuvers involve specific head and body movements to reposition the dislodged calcium particles in the inner ear. The goal is to move the particles out of the semicircular canals, where they cause dizziness. These maneuvers can provide immediate relief for BPPV-related vertigo
2. Brandt-Daroff Exercises:
   • Brandt-Daroff exercises are a series of head and body movements that can be performed at home to help alleviate vertigo symptoms. These exercises aim to habituate the inner ear to movements that trigger your symptoms. A physical therapist can train patients on the proper technique for performing Brandt Daroff Exercises.
3. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)
   • VRT is a specialized form of therapy that focuses on exercises and maneuvers to help improve balance, reduce dizziness, and alleviate the symptoms associated with vestibular disorders. VRT typically involves a thorough assessment by a trained physical therapist to identify the underlying cause of the vertigo. Once the cause is determined, the therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan that may include various exercises and techniques to target the specific vestibular issues.

Contact Comprehensive Rehab

Comprehensive Rehab offers physical therapy services at its locations in Clinton and Maquoketa. Our trained physical therapy team can provide expert guidance and support in managing vertigo symptoms through targeted exercises and techniques. Contact us today!