Vestibular Physical Therapy, Indianapolis

Vestibular rehabilitation is a treatment approach used to reduce or eliminate dizziness and unsteadiness through movement.

Our body maintains balance through the interactions of the signals from our ankle/feet, eyes and the inner ear-the vestibular system with the brain. When all these systems work in sync, we have good balance. However, when our vestibular system fails to function properly, we experience spinning sensation of our environment or become unsteady while walking, especially in the dark or in crowded places. It is estimated that a little over 40% of adults suffer from dizziness at some point in their lives, with a vast majority of these cases being attributed to vestibular dysfunction.

So, what do we do to resolve this vertigo?

1. Canal repositioning techniques: In this case, a person experiences spinning sensation due to dislodgement of calcium crystals in the inner ear. Your physical therapist will put you through a few positions to allow the crystals to regain its original position. You will then be given a few instructions to follow for a couple of days after which you should start to feel better. A few sessions may be required to fully resolve this issue.
2. Therapeutic exercises: In this case, it is the reduced functioning of your vestibular system that is causing your unsteadiness. Your physical therapist will teach you few exercises in order for the brain to re-adjust or re-learn to cope with the problem. Eventually, the body will adapt itself and not overly react to the dizziness-provoking stimuli.

With the ever-increasing cost on the healthcare system from falls and its aftermath, it may be a better choice to consider physical therapy to resolve your balance issues and reduce the burden of care.