If you’re like most people, chances are you have felt the room spinning at one point or another. If the issue is recurrent, or disrupting your everyday life, it is time to see someone about it! If you're considering a non-invasive therapy, physical therapy for vertigo and dizziness can help alleviate symptoms without medication. It's a good place to start – you can easily book an appointment with a qualified physical therapist in our Edmonton clinics, and follow up with a check up with your doctor if needed.
What causes dizziness?
Dizziness can be caused by many different glitches in your system. As you can imagine, keeping your neck, eyes, inner ear, and brain all functioning together smoothly is a pretty complex process. We can separate these glitches into two major categories: vestibular (arising from the inner ear) or non-vestibular (arising from structures other than the inner ear).
Is physical therapy for vertigo the right solution?
Luckily, there are a few key patterns we can look out for that tell us where your body's "glitch" is happening.
At REP Physio, we always start with a detailed interview and chat about what makes your symptoms worse or better, and the types of activities that your dizziness is affecting. This helps us paint a picture of your symptoms and start to find those telltale patterns that helps us understand what’s glitching. It is a good idea to write down what triggers your dizziness before your appointment.
After your physical therapist has an idea of what’s going on, they will take you through a number of different physical tests. Be forewarned: most of these tests will aggravate your symptoms, as this helps us confirm your diagnosis, which is essential for treating your vertigo! The good news is that the most common causes of vertigo are highly treatable and you can leave the clinic without the room spinning.
Solving the underlying causes of your vertigo
Depending on what is causing your vertigo, your physical therapist may need you to come in for additional treatments and will prescribe you exercises to help. While physical therapy for vertigo is not for everyone, if you follow the instructions of your therapist, you will increase the likelihood of a positive outcome.
Some types of dizziness are quite complex and may involve your neck or eyes. In rare instances, your vertigo may be caused by something serious. The vestibular physical therapists at REP are highly trained and very good at screening out these more serious cases and ensuring you are referred appropriately.
Whatever may be causing your dizziness, rest assured your physical therapist will perform an extensive exam and develop a plan with you to improve your symptoms.
Suffering from vertigo in Edmonton? Set up an appointment with one of our experts here.
