Dizziness: What causes it and what can you do about it?
By Dr. Emmanuel Vazquez | PT, DPT, CSCS, Cert VRS
Feeling like the room is spinning, nauseous, lightheaded, or having difficulty with balance?
Physical therapy can help!
Physical Therapy can help identify and treat your dizziness symptoms, whether it’s from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), Vestibular Hypofunction, Concussion/Post-concussion syndrome, or other related conditions.
BPPV is a form of vertigo that occurs when crystals within our inner-ear are dislodged and misplaced into improper vestibular structures. Though the true mechanism of this condition is yet to be discovered, some common causes or triggers of BPPV include head trauma, dental work, hair salon visits, or even laying on the same ear for sleeping and never changing sides of the bed. Fortunately regardless of the cause, it can be cured by a physical therapist performing specific maneuvers to reposition these crystals!
Vestibular hypofunction is a disorder caused by a down-regulated balance system leading to disabling symptoms such as dizziness, imbalance, and difficulty with gaze. Similar to most musculoskeletal conditions, it can be treated with physical therapy through progressive movements, designed specifically to upregulate the balance systems controlling your body, head, and eye position.
Concussions can also cause dizziness or balance problems. Furthermore, other symptoms can include headaches, nausea, neck pain, changes in sleep habits, fatigue, difficulty with concentration and changes in behavior. Occasionally symptoms from a concussion can be prolonged after the injury, leading to a condition called post-concussion syndrome. Vestibular rehabilitation can also improve persistent dizziness and balance dysfunction after concussions.
If you are searching for a local physical therapist to treat these conditions, identifying the Cert. VRS (Certified Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist) after their name can help. These are physical therapists who have received additional training to treat BPPV, post-concussion syndrome, cervicogenic dizziness, vestibular hypofunction, and other causes of dizziness or imbalance.
References:
- Lee Seung-Han and Kim Ji Soo. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. The Journal of Clinical Neurology 2010; 6:51-63.
- Alsalaheen, Bara A et. al. Vestibular Rehabilitation for Dizziness and Balance Disorders After Concussion. JNPT 2010; 34:87-93