Signs You May Need Vestibular Physiotherapy in Edmonton

There's nothing worse than trying to go about your day feeling dizzy, in a fog, or struggling against your body's sense of balance. The good news, however, is that when your vestibular system is not functioning properly, these are common sensations. The vestibular system—small yet mighty—is located in the inner ear and is responsible for balance and determining your body's location in space. That's why vestibular physiotherapy exists to alleviate these types of situations. 

Continue reading to see if you have any symptoms that merit vestibular physiotherapy in Edmonton, and learn how these services can help you get your life back on track.

What Is Vestibular Physiotherapy? 

Vestibular physiotherapy in Edmonton is a form of physiotherapy that specifically targets the vestibular system. Although the vestibular system may not be very large, it is essential for maintaining balance. It is located in the inner ear and communicates with the brain about where the body is located and how it's moving. When the system becomes compromised or injured, individuals experience various unpleasant symptoms, such as dizziness, complications with balance, and vertigo. 

Thus, vestibular therapy combines rehabilitation with specialized exercises. The exercises aid the body and brain in relearning compensatory strategies after injury or trauma to the vestibular system. The treatment aims to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Common Symptoms That Indicate You Need Vestibular Physiotherapy 

If you frequently experience any of the following, it may be worth consulting with your physiotherapist: 

1. Dizziness or Lightheadedness

A vestibular disorder symptom is the almost perpetual feeling of dizziness or lightheadedness. If you're doing nothing and suddenly feel dizzy—you're standing, and suddenly, out of nowhere, you feel lightheaded—this is a vestibular symptom. 

Dizziness distracts you from your tasks, creating complications in daily life. It may also cause you to fall more frequently. Thus, if you experience this symptom almost daily, vestibular physiotherapy is excellent for you. 

2. Balance Issues or Wobbling Sensation

Wobbling, whether in motion, walking somewhere, going up and down the stairs, or even standing still, can be annoying and dangerous. More people fall because of balance difficulties. Yet the brain does not send the proper signals to the vestibular system, making such occurrences more likely. Over time, vestibular rehabilitation can resolve these concerns and restore balance and better feelings of safety. 

3. Sensation of Vertigo or Spinning 

When you have vertigo, it feels like you are spinning, and the things that cause this spin are standing up too quickly, lying down, or rolling over in bed. Vertigo is a spinning sensation that is frequent, and it's associated with vestibular dysfunction. Seeing a specialist for vestibular physiotherapy will teach you the correct maneuvers to solve this issue. 

4. Greater Frequency of Falling

As unfortunate as falls are, they are common and occur with substantial injury—especially as we age. If you're falling more than once, or you find yourself constantly afraid that you're going to fall, then vestibular physiotherapy could be the treatment for you. Vestibular therapy works to promote balance and coordination to prevent falls—and restore confidence when it's successful. 

5. You Can't Concentrate or Have Blurry Vision 

If you can't concentrate or everything appears blurry when you try to look while moving your head, this is another vestibular red flag. It makes reading, driving, and watching things in motion all the more difficult. Vestibular physiotherapy involves exercises for eye and head coordination that ease this and work on stabilization. 

6. You Experience Chronic Headaches or Neck Pain 

If you're experiencing headaches or neck pain, this can also be a sign of vestibular dysfunction—especially after a concussion or whiplash. While headaches can be distracting in the middle of a hectic day, vestibular physiotherapy can help adjust for the dysfunction to relieve pain and improve the ability to function in daily life. 

7. Nausea or Motion Sickness 

Do you feel nauseous when you walk? When you're sitting in the back of a cab? Does nausea occur when you turn your head? If yes, this may mean your vestibular system is not working properly. Vestibular physiotherapy may be able to help with this as well through craniosacral therapy and gaze stabilization and habituation, which over time, can reduce motion sickness.

How Does Vestibular Physiotherapy Work?

Vestibular physiotherapy involves tailored exercises that encourage your body's brain to relearn how to compensate and manage balance and movement. Specifically, these exercises help the brain's natural reflexive response to vestibular system impairment so that the brain can compensate for diminished sensations of vertigo. 

For instance, sessions consist of exercises that will target certain muscles while increasing balance and coordination. Moreover, your vestibular physiotherapist will teach you specific maneuvers and strategies to help you stabilize in challenging situations.

Vestibular Physiotherapy Exercises 

Before any treatment occurs, however, it is expected that your practitioner will assess your condition and discuss your history to create a personalized regimen. This regimen might be a combination of the following exercises;

Gaze Stabilization Exercises

These exercises facilitate visual focus with head-turning. The goal of gaze stabilization exercises is to retrain the brain for better visual input and postural control. Stay seated or standing. Find a small target—a dot on the wall is good—and focus on it. Keep your eyes on the dot while moving your head from side to side or up and down. 

Balance Training Exercise 

Balance training exercises enhance stabilization and movement. Your Edmonton physiotherapist will give you these exercises to strengthen your systems and muscles, keeping you balanced. 

For example, there could be an exercise where you must stand on one leg for however long you can until you fall; then switch legs and do the same thing. You may also have a balance training exercise where you walk heel to toe in a straight line like you're walking a tightrope. 

Habituation Exercises

These exercises fall into this category because they are intended to ease dizziness by teaching the brain to adapt to specific dizziness-inducing movements and desensitizing dizziness-inducing movements. For example, if you get dizzy from turning your head quickly, your physiotherapist may have you turn your head quickly several times so your brain can adapt to it. 

Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers

These maneuvers are the treatment for BPPV. They involve a step-by-step process for reducing the vertigo effects associated with crystals being dislodged in the ear. This treatment occurs at the onset of vertigo. Typically, these maneuvers involve a series of head turns to get the crystals back in place. 

Conclusion 

Balance therapy in Edmonton is a valid option for treatment for those suffering from dizziness, imbalance, or any other vestibular issues. It's simply a matter of recognizing symptoms and acting quickly. With the proper therapeutic exercises and trained professionals, you'll be well on your way to decreased symptoms, increased balance, and improved quality of life. 

If you live in Edmonton and suffer from such issues, look for a vestibular physiotherapy clinic available in your area. You don't have to live with the feelings of dizziness and imbalance—treatment is at your fingertips. You'll be back to your old self in no time.