Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is an exercise-based program for Vertigo Treatment, focused on reducing the symptoms of disequilibrium and dizziness associated with vestibular problems like vertigo. ReLiva Physiotherapy provides vertigo treatment using vestibular rehabilitation with a neuro-otological approach for managing such symptoms at its Physiotherapy clinics across India.
Vertigo I Causes I Recovery I Vertigo Treatment I VRT I What to expect I Selfcare
Vertigo Treatment with Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Can vertigo be cured by physiotherapy?
VRT is an alternative treatment involving specific exercises that can eliminate or significantly reduce symptoms of vertigo by promoting central nervous system compensation for inner-ear deficits. VRT is an effective treatment for people with chronic vestibular neuronitis. VRT attempts to “retrain” your brain and nervous system to compensate for the abnormal signals coming from your vestibular system. A physiotherapist trained to perform VRT can help you to manage vertigo symptoms.
What helps vertigo and dizziness go away?
The VRT program for Vertigo treatment is focused on easing dizziness and related symptoms of vertigo. It is designed to achieve the following goals:
- Decrease dizziness and visual symptoms
- Improve balance and walking functions.
- Increase general activity levels.
What is included in VRT for Vertigo treatment?
Typically the Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) would include:
1. Canalith repositioning maneuver / Epley maneuver:
Designed for inner ear condition known as Benign Paroxysmal Positioning Vertigo (BPPV). This condition occurs when crystals in inner ear gets dislodged and float in the ear canal. Canalith repositioning maneuvers are very effective in case of BPPV and may require only couple of sessions.
2. Vestibular retraining for vertigo treatment:
This program would typically include exercises for improving coordination of eye and head movements, balance retraining and desensitization of the vestibular system. This part of the therapy would typically require 8 – 12 sessions. In some cases where significant balance and walking training is required it may require many more sessions.
3. Self-Exercise Program for vertigo treatment:
We educate our clients on the exercises they need to continue to manage their symptoms by themselves at home and continued improvement in fitness and endurance. Person entering a vestibular rehabilitation program needs to undergo a detailed assessment prior to starting the program because not all dizziness is caused by vestibular deficits.
Many times, vertigo is felt due to cervical spondylosis for which a different treatment program is prescribed.
What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a more like a symptom, rather than a condition itself. It is the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning.
Typically you would feel a loss of balance (which can make it difficult to stand or walk), nauseous and dizzy. Basically the feelings of unsteadiness; wooziness (swimming feeling in head); lightheadedness; feelings of passing out; and sensations of moving, spinning, floating, swaying, tilting, or whirling. These sensations can occur when standing still, lying down or when changing positions.
Feeling of vertigo at times can develop suddenly and may last for a few seconds, or it may last longer. Severe vertigo can lead to constant symptoms which could make normal life very difficult.
What causes Vertigo?
Vertigo is commonly caused by a problem with the way balance works in the inner ear, although it can also be caused by problems in certain parts of the brain.
Vertigo, dizziness and imbalance are the frequent symptoms in patients who suffer trauma to the head, neck or craniovertebral junction and can result in peripheral or central vestibular dysfunction.
Once trauma, infection, injury or other underlying causes are ruled out, doctors typically zero in on a diagnosis of either Meniere’s disease or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). These two otherwise benign conditions are the leading causes of vertigo, with a fifth of all cases attributed to BPPV.
Both Meniere’s and BPPV result from disorders of the inner ear, which contains the body’s balance mechanism. Their causes are not known (they are not caused by injury or infection), but the disturbances affect the sense of equilibrium.
What recovery can Vertigo patient expect with Vestibular Rehabilitation?
As per Cleveland Clinic, in most cases, if patients continue to perform the exercises they have learned, balance and dizziness problems decrease significantly or completely disappear. Read More
Vestibular Disorder Association, USA, says that vestibular rehabilitation can be effective in improving symptoms related to many vestibular (inner ear/balance) disorders. Read More
Expected vestibular rehabilitation outcomes include:
- Decreased fall risk
- Decreased dizziness symptoms
- Improved balance
- Improved ability to stabilize vision/gaze
- Increased body strength
- Return to prior level of movement/function
- Increase in confidence in ability to maintain balance
- Improved neck motion, reduced symptoms
How Common is Vertigo?
As per Medscape, the overall incidence of dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance is 5-10%, and it reaches 40% in patients older than 40 years. The incidence of falling is 25% in subjects older than 65 years. A report reviewing presentation to US emergency departments (EDs) from 1995 through 2004 indicated that vertigo and dizziness accounted for 2.5% of presentations. The estimated number of 2011 US ED visits for dizziness or vertigo was 3.9 million.
Self Care: Vertigo Treatment at Home
There are things you can do to ease vertigo symptoms when they’re happening. You can do several things to minimise any remaining feelings of dizziness and vertigo.
Do’s
- Lie still in a quiet, dark room to reduce the spinning feeling.
- Move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities.
- Sit down straightaway when you feel dizzy.
- Turn on the lights if you get up at night.
- Use a walking stick if you’re at risk of falling.
- Sleep with your head slightly raised on 2 or more pillows.
- Get out of bed slowly and sit on the edge of the bed for a while before standing up.
- Try to relax – anxiety can make vertigo worse.
Don’ts
- Bend over to pick things up – squat to lower yourself instead
- Stretch your neck – for example, while reaching up to a high shelf
- Get into bright lights – avoid them.
- Be in noisy surroundings – Try to cut out noise and anything that causes stress from your surroundings.
Now you know that it is possible to seek relief from dizziness owing to Vertigo. Do not live with it – Call us at 9920991584 and we will connect you to a Physiotherapist near you who can attend to your Vertigo and offer relief.
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