Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness characterized by the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when there is no actual movement. This disorienting condition can range from a mild nuisance to a debilitating experience that significantly impacts daily functioning. Unlike general dizziness, vertigo has distinct causes and effective treatment approaches that can provide substantial relief.
Vertigo Physiotherapy
Vertigo and dizziness can feel disorienting and disrupt your daily life. At Allied Physiotherapy, we perform a thorough assessment and use techniques such as the Epley maneuver, balance retraining, and eye-head coordination exercises to reduce dizziness and restore your sense of balance. With the right care, you can feel grounded and steady again.
Causes of Vertigo
Vertigo can result from various conditions affecting the inner ear or brain:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): The most common cause, resulting from displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear
- Vestibular Neuritis/Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of the inner ear nerves, often following a viral infection
- Meniere’s Disease: Inner ear disorder causing episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus
- Vestibular Migraine: Migraine variant with prominent vertigo symptoms
- Acoustic Neuroma: Benign tumor affecting the vestibular nerve
- Cervicogenic Dizziness: Vertigo stemming from neck conditions or injuries
- Medication Side Effects: Certain drugs can cause vertigo as a side effect
- Stroke or TIA (Trans Ischemic Attack): Affects blood flow to areas of the brain controlling balance
- Multiple Sclerosis: Can affect areas of the central nervous system related to balance
- Head Trauma: Concussion or other head injuries affecting the vestibular system, such as motor vehicle injuries (ICBC) or workplace place injuries (WorkSafeBC)
- Superior Canal Dehiscence: Thinning or opening in the bone covering the inner ear canal
Symptoms of Vertigo
Vertigo may present with various symptoms:
- Spinning Sensation: Feeling that you or your surroundings are rotating/spinning
- Balance Problems: Difficulty maintaining stability while standing or walking
- Nausea and Vomiting: Common symptoms of severe vertigo
- Nystagmus: Involuntary, rhythmic eye movements
- Motion Sensitivity: Increased symptoms with head movements
- Hearing Changes: Hearing loss, ringing, or fullness in the ears (with certain conditions)
- Headache: Can occur with vestibular migraines, cervicogenic dizziness and head trauma
- Sweating: Cold sweats during vertigo episodes
- Lightheadedness: Feeling faint or unsteady
- Difficulty Concentrating: Problems focusing during or after episodes
- Triggered Episodes: Symptoms that occur with specific positions or movements
When should I see a Physiotherapist?
Our top-rated Physiotherapists can help you, if you are experiencing any of the following:
- Severe or persistent vertigo
- New or different type of dizziness
- Sudden onset of intense vertigo lasting 30 minutes or more, accompanied by nausea and/or vomiting
- Vertigo accompanied by hearing loss
- Symptoms following a head injury or concussion
- Vertigo with neurological symptoms (vision changes, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking)
- Episodes that interfere with daily activities
- Falls or near-falls due to balance problems
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Symptoms that don’t improve within a few days
- Vertigo that differs from previous episodes
- If you have been in a Motor Vehicle accident (ICBC) or have suffered a workplace injury (WorkSafeBC) and have any of the above symptoms
How Physiotherapy Helps Vertigo
Our specialized and best rated Vertigo Physiotherapists use evidence-based approaches to treat vertigo:
- Vestibular Assessment: Comprehensive evaluation of your vestibular system, balance, gait, and related symptoms to determine the specific cause of your vertigo.
- Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers: Specialized techniques like the Epley maneuver to treat BPPV by relocating displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation: Customized exercise programs to retrain your brain to process information more effectively.
- Habituation Exercises: Controlled exposure to positions or movements that trigger symptoms to help your brain adapt and reduce sensitivity.
- Gaze Stabilization Training: Exercises to improve visual focus during head movements.
- Balance Training: Progressive exercises to improve stability and reduce fall risk.
- Postural Education: Guidance on proper alignment and body mechanics to reduce strain on the vestibular system.
- Home Exercise Program: A personalized plan of computerized and printed exercises to continue your progress between sessions.
Preventing Vertigo
While many causes of vertigo are not preventable, these important strategies may help manage or reduce episodes of Vertigo:
- Stay hydrated: Dehydration can trigger dizziness and vertigo
- Manage stress: Stress can worsen vertigo symptoms in some people
- Move carefully: Make head movements slowly, especially when changing positions during an attack of vertigo
- Sleep adequately: Poor sleep can exacerbate balance problems
- Avoid triggers: Identify and limit exposure to personal vertigo triggers
- Maintain good neck posture: Reduce strain on cervical structures. Correct posture during sleeping, working on the computer and during other activities of daily life
- Regular exercise: General activity improves overall balance and stability
- Vestibular exercises: Continue prescribed exercises even after symptoms improve to ensure you maintain progress
- Monitor medications: Be aware of medications that may cause dizziness
Why Choose Our Top Rated Physio Clinics for Vertigo?
Our multi-disciplinary physio clinic offers specialized care for vertigo and vestibular disorders with a comprehensive approach based on the latest research and treatment techniques. Our 5 star rated Vertigo Physiotherapists have advanced training in vestibular rehabilitation and use precise diagnostic procedures to identify the exact cause of your symptoms.
We understand that vertigo can be a frightening and disruptive experience. Our goal is not only to alleviate your immediate symptoms but to provide you with the tools and knowledge to manage your condition effectively in the long term. Many vestibular conditions, particularly BPPV, respond exceptionally well to proper treatment, often with significant improvement in just 1-2 sessions.
Book Your Vertigo Physiotherapy Appointment Today
Don’t let vertigo limit your activities and independence. Contact us today to schedule your appointment & comprehensive vestibular assessment to take the first step toward regaining your balance, confidence and health.
