Dizziness is a common issue within the general population and can be one of the most unpleasant and debilitating conditions to experience. While there are many different causes of dizziness, one cause may be a dysfunction of your vestibular system. This sensory system involves several structures of the inner ear and is responsible for providing our brain with information regarding movement, head position and spatial orientation. It then sends messages to our motor systems and works to stabilise our balance, our head and body during movements and postural responses. Thus, when the vestibular system isn’t working correctly, you may experience a form of dizziness known as vertigo. Physiotherapists are trained to treat the vestibular system, and it can be quicker fix than you might think!
Am I experiencing dizziness or true vertigo?
As mentioned above, there are many different causes of dizziness and the cause of the problem must first be identified.
Dizziness is a general term used to describe sensations such as light headedness, giddiness, disorientation in space, unsteadiness, woozy or off balance. This general dizziness can have many different causes, including, low blood pressure, dehydration, anxiety, low blood sugar, anaemia, cervicogenic issues or concussions. Vertigo, on the other hand, is a very distinct sensation that your surrounding environment is spinning around you. Typically, it is triggered by or made worse by sudden movement or positional changes. It is the illusion of movement that isn’t actually occurring and is a result of vestibular (inner ear) disorders.
I now know I am suffering from true vertigo, but what is causing it?
Once other forms of dizziness have been excluded, the cause of the vertigo symptoms must then be determined. We know it is likely to involve dysfunction of the inner ear, and a physiotherapist can conduct a thorough assessment of your vestibular system to determine the cause. It may be due to a viral infection of the inner ear, a vestibular migraine, Meniere’s disease, or most commonly, a condition known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
BPPV
Inside your ear are a series of semi-circular canals filled with fluid and calcium carbonate crystals, which detect movement. When your head moves, the fluid shifts around and the canals work to tell your brain how far, how fast and in which direction your head is moving. Sometimes, following injury, surgery or infection of the inner ear, these calcium crystals can become dislodged, and cause the feeling of vertigo.
Typical symptoms of BPPV include;
- Sudden onset of vertigo that lasts less than 1 minute and is often triggered by positional changes (e.g. rolling in bed).
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Nystagmus (involuntary eye flickers).
- Poor balance.
How can a physiotherapist help?
Vestibular physiotherapy has proven to be highly successful in treating and reducing symptoms of dizziness. If you are suffering from BPPV, a technique known as ‘The Epley Manoeuvre’ can be completed in order to reposition the crystals back into position in the inner ear. This technique is highly effective and usually takes only 1-3 treatments before you notice a rapid improvement.
If you are suffering from other causes of dizziness, a vestibular physiotherapist can teach you habituation exercises, head and eye coordination, and balance and gait retraining.
We know that dizziness can be debilitating, so if we are unsuccessful at treating your symptoms, we will refer you on to a specialist!
If you would like to learn more about vestibular physiotherapy, the physiotherapists at Back In Motion Como would love to help!
Website: https://www.backinmotion.com.au/como
Phone Number: 9313 3414