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Vestibular Rehabilitaion
Signs and Symptoms of Vestibular Disorders:
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye movement)
- Vertigo
- Dizziness
- Imbalance or ataxia
- Compromised gaze stability (decreased visual acuity with head movement, affecting the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR))
- Nausea, vomiting, fatigue
- Neck tightness, stiffness and/or pain
- Brain fog, difficulty concentrating, mild memory issues
Can any physiotherapist do vestibular physiotherapy?
You should seek a physiotherapist with specific training in vestibular rehabilitation. Physiotherapists offering this approach typically have a special interest in vestibular rehabilitation and undergo specialized courses during professional continuing education programs.
What type of problem can be treated with vestibular physiotherapy?
Balance issues, including dizziness in busy, complex, or contrasting visual environments, and positional vertigo, are typically well treated with vestibular physiotherapy.
How does vestibular physiotherapy work?
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises are commonly included in the treatment of positional vertigo and are designed to train the brain to use alternative visual and proprioceptive cues to maintain balance and gait. It has been shown that these exercises improved nystagmus, postural control, movement-provoked dizziness, the ability to perform activities of daily living independently, and levels of distress. While no single vestibular rehabilitation exercise has been shown to reduce the symptoms of positional vertigo, a program of therapies that can include self-administered repositioning maneuvers, gaze stabilization exercises, falls prevention training, and patient education may be beneficial in reducing the symptoms of positional vertigo and improve quality of life.