Physiotherapy is highly effective for the diagnosis and treatment of dizziness, and for balance rehabilitation. In this piece we look at Vestibular Rehabilitation at North Light Physiotherapy, with Chris Shorter
Dizziness can be very limiting on our lives, impacting our ability to move normally and has a huge impact on our emotional wellbeing. It often leads to falls and causes anxiety and avoidance of many activities. Many people live very restricted lives with this condition.
If dizziness is related to the inner ear (a problem with our peripheral vestibular system), Physiotherapy can be highly effective. For example: the Epley technique is a postural movement technique than can reverse dizziness. Specific eye and head exercises are often used to challenge the balance system in order to improve it. A graded exposure to dizziness is also recommended, the system will only reset itself if we expose ourselves to dizziness, and this is carried out gradually at a rate the patient can handle.
Some medical causes of dizziness can be ruled out during Physiotherapy assessment, such as postural hypotension (blood pressure drop that occurs during a change in posture) or VBI – vertebrobasilar insufficiency- where the blood supply to the brain gets temporarily blocked by neck movements. A key role of the Physiotherapist is ascertaining what isn’t manageable with Physiotherapy, and in these cases, referring on to the correct specialist.
Postural hypotension and VBI can be medically managed, and if these problems are found during screening we would provide advice and then refer to your GP for further assessment.
Factors such as stress and anxiety are also considered in the holistic process of assessment and treatment, as in my clinical experience dizziness is often linked with times of stress, poor health or even bereavement. Addressing these factors or even making the links to your dizziness symptoms can also play a big part in recovery.
If your life is limited by dizziness, you have a problem with your balance, or you are prone to falls, Physiotherapy may well be the solution!
Call North Light Physiotherapy Associates on 01484 660663, or send a message on our Contact page.
Chris Shorter of North Light Physiotherapy Associates, Huddersfield, UK, qualified as a Physiotherapist in 2003. He has a special interest in balance and vestibular issues, which he comes across daily in his clinical practice.
Now don’t get me wrong- there were dark times-I did doubt myself- pain messes with your head in that way-, and I did come in for some criticism too (“you’re a Physio, you shouldn’t have problems like this-what hope is there for the rest of us?”). This was hard to take, but I had to reassure myself I could sort the problem. The thing is, I’m made of the same stuff as everyone else, so there’s no reason I shouldn’t develop back pain. The measure of me was, whether I was good enough to solve the problem? The answer was a resounding yes!