Background about Vestibular Disorders and How Vestibular Rehabilitation Can Help
There are many disorders related to vestibular or inner ear balance that are said to be improved if people will undergo vestibular rehabilitation with the aid of vestibular rehabilitation therapy or VRT. If you are experiencing problems with vertigo, dizziness, visual disturbance, and or imbalance, then there is a probability that you are suffering from vestibular disorders.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is considered the best way to manage most causes of vertigo, dizziness and imbalance. However, it is observed that in this field, only a very few trained specialists are competent enough to diagnose these disorders and be able to formulate treatment applications that are appropriate enough.
Note that this field is mostly in the domain of the chiropractic neurologist and some few doctors sub-specialize in this field, although there are clinics that do specialize in this treatment.
Designed by a vestibular physical therapist, the professional is specially trained to conduct exercise program for vestibular rehabilitation. This program has the goal of improving balance in problems relating to dizziness and reduce the concern.
When you feel unsteady, of wooziness or swimming feeling in head, of lightheadedness, of passing out, a sensation of moving, of spinning, floating, swaying, tilting and whirling or vertigo, then you are experiencing dizziness. These mentioned feelings or sensations would occur usually when you are standing still, lying down or changing positions.
Every year, it is claimed that more than 10 million of patients would visit a doctor because of dizziness. This is the most common complaint of people over the age of 75, however, patients of any age can also experience this problem.
You will be assessed by a physical therapist during your appointment, symptoms evaluated and medical history reviewed, under the following areas of balance and leg strength, how you walk or gait, visual stability and mobility, neck mobility and neck and arm strength, and positional testing to include an inner ear exam.
A plan of care will be developed by the therapist basing on the findings of the mentioned areas. Remember that the objective of your treatment plan is to improve whatever is identified as deficiency in the areas of your concern. With the treatment, you are then helped to function well in the activities of your daily living, thus will minimize your risk of falling, and ultimately have a better quality of life.
The treatment of the issues would involve a wide range of variety of techniques, such as visual exercises and sensorimotor retraining, and these exercises can be done at home, and would include information of the whole family. With the help of all family members, the patient is being helped to get back to his or her fullest potentials, and this is the main goal of the treatment.