Vertigo is when you feel dizzy and off-balance, it’s when the world seems to spin around you. Vertigo becomes more common as you age but can also affect individuals of any age and gender. When these issues become frequent and/or prolonged, vertigo can seriously affect the quality of life of the person affected. It’s a problem that can be caused by a trauma, viral infection, degenerative disease, or infection. But more often than not, the exact cause remains unknown.
How do we keep our balance?
There are several systems in our body that work together to help us keep our balance. Our brain is in charge of our movements and allows us to stay upright thanks to:
- The vestibular system: located in the inner ear, this system sends information from the nervous system to the brain to enable us to change our physical position and adapt it to our environment.
- The eyes: our eyes transmit a significant amount of information to our brain.
- The muscles in our feet: located on the soles of our feet, these muscles help the brain evaluate the ground on which we walk, even without the help of our eyes.
When one of these systems is impaired or weakened, an individual may experience vertigo, at a varying frequency and intensity. If it is a recurring issue, vertigo may impact an individual’s autonomy and affect their mobility and daily activities.
If the vestibular system is impaired, the patient may experience vertigo as well as dizziness, loss of balance, and in some cases, vision problems. One of the most frequent causes of vertigo is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It is characterized by short episodes of vertigo triggered by a sudden movement of the head. It should not be confused with fear of emptiness. Thankfully, at-home physical therapy sessions are available throughout Greater Montreal for this type of vertigo. This treatment is part of an approach called vestibular rehabilitation and its goal is to reduce the symptoms.
Vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialization in physical therapy that allows the professional to observe how their patient’s vestibular system operates. The treatment plan includes exercises that aim to expose the patient to stimuli that would normally provoke vertigo and dizziness. The treatment and program will vary depending on the patient’s condition. Various manoeuvres that move the head and body will be used in order to provoke vertigo (which is a very good sign) in order to reduce its effects. These manoeuvres are normally painless.
The program’s goal is to lessen the patient’s vertigo by accustoming them to the movements that provoke vertigo. They will also help the patient’s vision remain unimpaired during problematic movements. Practiced daily, they will the patient to improve their balance.
Vestibular rehabilitation aims to educate the patient and help them understand how their system works to maintain their balance. Thanks to the exercises recommended by the physical therapist, the patient will be able to improve both their physical condition and quality of life.
Clinique GO™ offers at-home physical therapy services throughout Greater Montreal. Our team travels to your home, workplace, or retirement home and can also provide their services in health institutions. If you suffer from vertigo, don’t wait any longer to improve your well-being, contact us now!
Approuvé par Francis Desjardins
