Vestibular Therapy
Vertigo (Dizziness) Treatment (in-person or virtual appointments available)
Our vestibular system is our inner ear. It keeps our balance, brings awareness to our head position in space, and keeps our gaze steady when our head is moving. Vertigo is the sensation of movement while our head is still. It is. It is often described as a feeling of the room spinning, or fullness in the head, although the exact sensation is specific to the individual.
BPPV and Repositioning Maneuvers
BPPV, or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, is a common vestibular disorder. Fortunately it is quite treatable. Although it is not life-threatening, it does have serious impacts on one's day-to-day functioning, work, and driving abilities. Neuro PT will come directly to you to test for the presence of calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear. Infrared video goggles record your eye movements while you lie down in various positions. A repositioning - or moving of the crystals- is performed through a series of body/head movements. Dizziness improvement can be achieved right away.
Eye Movements/ Vision Training
Eye movement ability is linked to the inner ear. Our eyes should smoothly track an object, be able to jump from one object to another, and the right and left eye ideally work together to focus on an object. Training of these movements, and techniques for our inner ear to relay information to and from the eyes, can be performed.
Gaze Stabilization Training
Imagine you are on a treadmill attempting to read the closed captions on a T.V.- are the words steady or jumping around? Neuro PT uses a progression of exercises to train one's ability to stabilize their gaze. This can greatly improve one's balance and decrease dizzy episodes.
Balance/Habituation
It is common for someone with vertigo to avoid certain movements in order to lessen their dizziness. This is the body's protective and natural response. However, over time this avoidance diminishes our body's ability to safely perform certain activities. Balance can be improved through a gradual increase in challenging activities.
Neck Mobility
Our neck and spine have a direct connection to our inner ear. Assessing range of motion of the neck, the vertebra joint mobility, and muscle tension is important. Treatments to modify these factors can reduce dizziness.