The most common cause of vertigo and dizziness is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This condition occurs when calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and interfere with normal fluid movement causing false signals to be sent to the brain. BPPV is common in the older population and can occur for no specific reason. Triggers for symptoms typically include specific head movements including rolling in bed, getting in and out of bed, bending over, tipping the head back, and quick head movements. There are different types of BPPV and each requires a different maneuver for effective treatment. Often, BPPV can be treated effectively in two treatment sessions. If left untreated, BPPV can result in lingering dizziness and issues with balance.
Other common causes of vestibular disorders include the following: Vestibular Neuritis, Labrynthitis, Vestibular Hypofunction, Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Migraine, Post Concussion Syndrome, Cervicogenic Dizziness, Head trauma, PPPD (Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness). These conditions can result in dizziness, vertigo (spinning), visual disturbance and feeling off-balance.
Vestibular Rehabilitation is a specialized treatment that addresses vestibular disorders. The cause for the problems is determined through a Vestibular Assessment. This assessment consists of: comprehensive medical history and clinical assessment of your symptoms, manual and functional tests of the visual, vestibular and balance systems to discern the potential causes of the presenting symptoms and infrared goggle technology to accurately assess vestibular dysfunction by recording eye movement. After the assessment is completed, the treatment consists of an individualized exercise program consisting of gaze stabilization and habituation exercises, balance and gait training as well as positional maneuvers as indicated. Treatment for vestibular disorders can be several visits or longer depending on the type of vestibular disorder.