Is Your Head Spinning, Feel Dizzy, Nausea? How Physical Therapy Can Help Your Vertigo
Have you ever had a sudden sense that you’re spinning in place–even though you’re standing perfectly still? You may feel various degrees of dizziness, nausea, and even vomiting. If so, then you’ve experienced vertigo, an unnerving sensation that often indicates an underlying issue with your vestibular system.
A single incident of vertigo probably isn’t anything to worry about, as the sensation isn’t typically harmful in and of itself. However, multiple vertigo attacks can be debilitating and compromise your balance and spatial awareness. Therefore, frequent vertigo can also increase fall risk, leading to potential injury or hospitalization.
The causes of vertigo can vary from very serious or not as serious that is treatable by physical therapy. A recommended place to start is to see a neurologist that specializes in the vestibular system. In most cases, there are physical impairments that contribute to the vertigo–those that the physical therapists at G3 Physical Therapy can help address. Our team’s understanding of your body’s vestibular and balance systems ensures you can find the relief you need to live a full, healthy life.
Don’t let vertigo sweep you off your feet. Call us today to schedule an initial consultation!
Understanding Vertigo: What It Is, What It Feels Like, and What Causes It
Many people use the terms “vertigo” and “dizziness” interchangeably, but vertigo is a specific type of dizziness. Dizziness can refer to a range of sensations: wooziness, lightheadedness, etc. Vertigo refers to a particular sensation in which you feel like you or the space you’re in is spinning.
Vertigo is closely associated with your vestibular system, which is located in your inner ear (the peripheral vestibular system) and in your cerebellum (the central vestibular system). Most people with vertigo have an impairment in the peripheral vestibular system: the structures and canals of the inner ear.
What sort of impairments? Here are a few of the most common:
- Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo (BPPV): The most common source of vertigo, this occurs when tiny crystals build up in the inner ear canal. And can be alleviated with a physical therapy technique.
- Meniere’s Disease: This results from fluid buildup in your inner ear. In addition to vertigo, you might experience hearing loss or muffled hearing, tinnitus, and a sense of fullness in the ear.
- Labyrinthitis: This is an inner ear inflammation resulting from an infection.
- Vestibular Neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular portion of the 8th cranial nerve.
- Cervical Muscle Tension: Neck and shoulder muscles can spasm and shorten to cause nerve compression and decreased circulation.
It’s important to remember that vertigo isn’t really a condition in and of itself–it’s a symptom. If you can’t find an obvious inner ear issue that could be causing your vertigo, you may have central vertigo, vertigo that’s rooted in your cerebellum. The following can cause central vertigo:
- Stroke
- Migraines
- Vascular disease
- Traumatic brain injury
- Tumors
Our physical therapists will work with you and other providers, if needed, to determine the exact root cause of your vertigo attacks.
Physical Therapy’s Role in Treating Vertigo
Many people are surprised that physical therapy is a standard treatment for vertigo, but it’s true, especially if you have peripheral vertigo. Our therapists will blend several different treatments to help manage your vertigo attacks while working to improve your overall balance, stability, posture, increase mobility, and decrease muscle tension:
- Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physical therapy that consists of exercises specifically designed to address issues with the vestibular system, including relaxation techniques, gaze stabilization exercises, and more.
- Repositioning maneuvers help people with BPPV. We can dislodge the crystals causing your symptoms by positioning your head in certain ways.
- Balance training is an integral part of any vertigo treatment plan. We’ll walk you through exercises designed to challenge–and improve–your overall balance, which helps reduce your fall risk.
- Mobility & Postural Alignment programs are another important piece in the vertigo puzzle. A forward head posture and decreased spine and hip mobility usually go hand in hand. This impacts how the vestibular system functions. These impairments can also contribute to balance issues; a tailored exercise program will help you increase mobility & build the functional strength you need to stay on your feet.
Finally, lifestyle and patient education ensures you understand the cause of your vertigo and have the tools you need to manage it. For example, dehydration & lack of sleep can aggravate certain vertigos. We can help you identify and avoid vertigo triggers and provide strategies to make it through vertigo attacks.
Say Goodbye to Vertigo. Call G3 Physical Therapy Today!
Although it’s not life-threatening, vertigo can profoundly impact your overall quality of life. Many people with frequent vertigo are less likely to go out or participate in their favorite recreational activities for fear of an ill-timed attack. But our physical therapists can help control–and sometimes even resolve–your vertigo, ensuring you live a rich, active life.
Ready to learn more? Call to schedule an appointment today.