QUESTIONS

• Do you get dizzy / lightheaded when getting in and/or out of bed?
• Does the room ever spin when you are rolling over in bed?!
• Do you ever feel unsteady when walking, especially if you look up/down or turn your head side to side?
• Have you ever felt nauseated along with dizziness?
• Do you ever have trouble concentrating when experiencing dizziness or being light headed?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you might have a vertigo or a vestibular disorder that could be treated by physical therapy.

WHAT IS A VESTIBULAR DISORDER?
WHAT IS VERTIGO?

Vestibular or inner ear disorders are conditions that can cause a person to have problems with their balance. Vertigo is the sensation of spinning and is a common symptom of vestibular disorders. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), the most common type of vertigo, is caused by crystals that become dislodged and move into the semi-circular canal. With head movement, these floating crystals send false signals to the brain causing a spinning sensation and a feeling of dizziness. Vestibular disorders and vertigo can affect people of all ages.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms associated with vertigo / vestibular disorders:

• Prior falls
• Room-spinning sensation with certain activities.
• Feeling off-balance when moving around.
• Feeling nauseated.
• Problems concentrating.
• Head feels “swimmy”.
• Feeling fatigued.

Any of these symptoms can significantly impact a person’s life, activity level and well-being. Balance issues can cause a person to reduce their activity level due to fear of falling or a possible injury due to a fall. Reduction in activity levels can lead to decreased strength, loss of range of motion, increased muscle tension in neck and shoulders, fatigue, anxiety and possible depression. Early intervention can help to reduce the likelihood of secondary problems associated with balance issues / vestibular disorders.

WHAT PHYSCIAL THERAPY DOES

Physical Therapy can help in many ways. First, we perform a comprehensive evaluation that includes:

• Complete Medical History: Used to assess your current overall state of health and past illnesses.
• Eye Movement/Vision Assessment: How well do your eyes move by themselves and how well do your eyes move when you are moving your head?
• Vertigo / BPPV Assessment: Does the position of your head cause dizziness?
• Balance / Gait Assessment: Do you lose your balance when you walk or move your head?
• Musculoskeletal Assessment: Is there any weakness in muscles or tightness in joints that might affect balance & gait?

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO

If you think you may have a vestibular disorder or vertigo you should:

• Contact your doctor about your symptoms and schedule a check-up.
• Make sure you tell your doctor about all medications you are taking because a side effect of some medications is dizziness.
• Talk to your doctor about physical therapy treatment for dizziness.
• Contact a physical therapy office about getting an evaluation and starting treatment.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED

• Balance and Fall Prevention Program
• C.A.R.E. Program of Maryland Cancer And Rehabilitative Exercise
• Sports Rehabilitation and Performance Training
• Pregnancy Program
• Adult Conditioning Program
• Custom Orthotics

For additional information regarding our clinic and numerous programs offered, visit us at:
www.MMPT-HCPT.com