Vertigo is a sensation that you are spinning even when you are standing still. Another name for vertigo is dizziness. It occurs when something happens to disrupt your body’s sense of equilibrium. Vertigo can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition. In some cases, Salmon Creek physical therapy may be able to treat vertigo completely, or at least lessen it so that it doesn’t affect your ability to perform your normal activities.
What Causes Vertigo
There are two types of chronic, pathologic vertigo. Central vertigo occurs when something is the matter with your brain, preventing it from interpreting nerve signals that allow it to orient the body in space appropriately. Central vertigo is relatively rare, but traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and brain infections can all cause it.
Peripheral vertigo is the other type. This happens when the brain is working fine but there is a problem with the inner ear or the vestibular nerve. The inner ear contains three semicircular canals filled with fluid and crystals. Movement of the head causes the fluid and crystals to slosh around in the canals. This stimulates the vestibular nerve, which sends information to the brain that allows it to orient the body in space.
There are several medical conditions that can cause peripheral vertigo. Vestibular neuritis is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve. Meniere’s disease causes fluid to build up in the inner ear. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo causes canaliths, tiny particle crystals in the ear, to dislodge from their normal position and float around. Peripheral vertigo is more common than central vertigo, and Oregon City physical therapy may be able to help.
Efficient Symptom Management: Strategies for Effective Relief
Depending on the cause of your vertigo, you may benefit from several physical therapy techniques. One is a canalith repositioning procedure, which puts the tiny crystals in your inner ear back where they belong. Another is vestibular rehabilitation, which can strengthen the vestibular system for symptom relief and better balance.
In the short term, you can reduce vertigo symptoms by lying still in a dark room. If you have to get up, try to move your head slowly and carefully to reduce the spinning sensation. If you’re at risk for a fall, you can use an ambulation aid, such as a cane, to steady yourself.
Doctors sometimes prescribe medication, such as motion sickness drugs, to prevent vertigo. If your symptoms persist despite conservative treatments, you may need surgery.
How To Find a Physical Therapist for Vertigo There are many professionals who said, “I am going to train for physical therapy jobs near me,” and who now treat patients as physical therapists. However, not all of them specialize in treating vertigo. You may benefit from seeing a therapist who specializes in treating your symptoms.
If you know others who have seen physical therapy for vertigo, you can ask them for recommendations. You can also ask a doctor, either your primary care physician or a neurologist who is treating your vertigo, for a referral to a physical therapist who treats vestibular issues
