Ever experience a momentary bout of dizziness?
You may have brushed it off and continued on with your day.
But if it included a feeling of nausea, and maybe even some difficulty focusing your eyesight, it could be something more.
Thankfully, the experienced staff at Royal City Health & Manual Therapy can help you determine if it might be best treated by vestibular rehabilitation.
What is that?
“Vestibular rehabilitation is the assessment and treatment of disorders of the inner ear and brain. These areas allow us to sense our body's movement and to control our balance,” explains Nicolas Duran, a senior physiotherapist with Royal City Health & Manual Therapy.
Nick attained his Masters of Physiotherapy at the University of Alberta and specializes in vestibular rehab.
Most times, vestibular symptoms present as dizziness or a spinning sensation (vertigo). Other symptoms can include nausea or vomiting, light-headedness, poor balance or falls, and blurry vision.
If you experience those symptoms, it may be time to see a physiotherapist to devise an effective treatment plan.
“Treatment will always depend on the diagnosis,” Duran says. “The most common symptom that people describe is a brief sensation of spinning when quickly looking up or down, rolling to the side of the bed, or when getting out of bed in the morning.
“During the assessment if testing indicates a condition known as BPPV, where little crystals have dislodged in the inner ear, treatment will involve a technique called the Modified Epley Maneuver.”
This usually requires between one to three treatments and carries a high success rate.
“Of course there are also many other causes of vestibular dysfunction, each with their own appropriate treatment,” Duran says.
So, if you are feeling a little shaky, a little out of sorts when it comes to balance, take some time to get to the root of the problem and check out what results a vestibular rehab program can provide.
“First, people should know that you do not require a referral from your family physician to see a vestibular physiotherapist, you can make an appointment directly,” Duran adds. “Second, be sure that the vestibular physiotherapist has had training specifically in Vestibular Rehab.”
Most physiotherapy programs do not include formal training in this area since it requires further course study after graduating from physiotherapy school.
“Third, make sure you are comfortable with your therapist to allow for a good working relationship to get your symptoms resolved properly,” Duran says.
For more about how Royal City Health & Manual Therapy can help you with this, or any other concern requiring physiotherapy, visit their website at newwestminsterphysiotherapy.com.
