Vestibular Physiotherapy in Toronto
Vestibular physiotherapy is an effective treatment for BPPV (Vertigo) as well as other dizziness and balance disorders related to the vestibular (inner ear) system. If you are suffering from dizziness, feel unsteady, feel uncomfortable in the dark or in busy places, come for an assessment.
Click links below to learn more about vestibular system, dizziness, and vestibular rehabilitation Therapy:
- What causes dizziness?
- Who benefits from vestibular physiotherapy?
- What is the vestibular system?
- Is there a difference between vertigo & dizziness?
- What is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy?
- How does Vestibular Therapy work?
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy by Physiomobility in Toronto, the difference
Vestibular rehabilitation by Physiomobility is a science-based treatment program offered by our trained physiotherapists for dizziness & balance disorders originating from inner ear dysfunction, injuries or conditions.
Most of our vestibular rehabilitation treatments can be provided through virtual/video physiotherapy for patients anywhere in Ontario.
What causes dizziness?
Common Causes of Vertigo and Dizziness:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Inflammation in the inner ear
- Meniere’s disease
- Neck joint dysfunction and arthritis
- Vestibular migraine
- Vestibular neuritis
- Acoustic neuroma
- Concussion related dizziness
- Rarely, vertigo can be a symptom of a more serious neurological problem such as a stroke or brain hemorrhage.
Who benefits from Vestibular Physiotherapy?
Many people experience Vertigo or BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), which consists of significant and sudden onsets of dizziness resulting from movements of the head. This can make it difficult to get out of bed or perform normal everyday activities.
Almost any person who experiences dizziness & vertigo can benefit from a vestibular physiotherapy assessment to determine the cause of dizziness. In most cases, a course of vestibular rehabilitation treatments can help patients overcome the challenges associated with vertigo and other symptoms related to balance.
What is the Vestibular (Inner ear) System?
The vestibular system is the structure located inside the inner ear and once compromised by an injury such as concussion, or infections or other conditions that can commonly cause symptoms such as vertigo, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Other common symptoms include lightheadedness, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), double vision or impaired balance. The vestibular system is an important organ inside your inner ear and contributes to your balance and sense of the position of your body in space. Your vestibular system comprises of a few components:
- Vestibular receptors in the inner ear
- The connectors between vestibular receptors and other areas in the central nervous system
- Vision
- Hands and fingers
- The sensory receptors in the sole of feet
- The cochlea, a part of the auditory system which constitutes the labyrinth and includes:
- Semicircular canal system, which detects rotational movements of your head and body
- Otoliths, which detects the linear accelerations (moving your body forward and backward and the speed and acceleration).
Head movements stimulate receptors in the inner ear by transmitting signals to the labyrinth. The labyrinth is a structure in your inner ear and is made up of three semicircular canals surrounded by fluid. The cell receptors inside the labyrinth then transmit these signals and received movement information to the vestibular nerve and the vestibular nerve carries the information to the brain-stem and cerebellum. The Brain stem also controls eye movements and reflexes which are necessary for clear vision balance mechanisms (the activity of muscles that control our posture and keep us upright). Brain stem and cerebellum control balance, posture, and motor coordination.
The trained vestibular therapist uses the involuntary eye movement (nystagmus) to assess the symptoms and identify what area of the vestibular system is affected.
Physiomobility clinics’ Vestibular physiotherapist uses the latest equipment to track, monitor and record the eye movements during assessment and treatment.
The information collected during your assessment will then be used to develop a treatment plan that includes a series of maneuvers and exercises to decrease the symptoms and improve balance.
Adults who have suffered damage to the vestibular organs of the inner ear can learn to depend on visual information to maintain their balance. Vestibular rehabilitation is activation and training other senses such as vision to compensate for the lost senses.
Is there a difference between Vertigo and Dizziness?
Both Vertigo and dizziness are considered to be symptoms, not a disease. Vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning of the world around you. Vertigo is the result of a disturbance in your vestibular system. It is commonly short-lived but can last from hours to days and can be debilitating. People who experience Vertigo may use this term to describe feelings of dizziness which is the sensation of lightheadedness, faintness, and unsteadiness.
People describe their dizzy symptoms differently. Dizziness is usually described as:
- Feelings of unsteadiness
- Wooziness (swimming feeling in the head)
- Lightheadedness
- Feelings of passing out
- Sensations of moving
- Spinning
- Floating
- Swaying
- Tilting
- Whirling (sensations known as vertigo)
