Vertigo, Dizziness, Testing and Treatment

Vertigo and dizziness, are symptoms rather than a disease. They do differ subtly with dizziness a potential symptom of someone suffering from vertigo. People often use the word "dizziness" when they are talking about a variety of symptoms, including:

- Vertigo (a feeling of spinning or whirling when you are not actually moving). 

- Unsteadiness (a sense of imbalance or staggering when standing or walking). 

- Lightheadedness or feeling as if you are about to faint (presyncope). This may mean there is a heart problem or low blood pressure. 

- Dizziness caused by breathing too rapidly (hyperventilation) or anxiety

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN:
-  Neurological Physiotherapy?

-  Vestibular Physiotherapy?

-  Physiotherapy? 

NEUROLOGICAL PHYSIOTHERAPY: 

Neurological Physiotherapists manage individuals with movement and function disorders involving the nervous system and neuromuscular systems such as the brain and spinal cord. -  People with neurological conditions can have a variety of impairments. These may include muscle tightness or spasm, weakness, tremors, poor balance, reduced coordination, and altered sensation. These symptoms can lead to problems with everyday activities such as walking, getting dressed and eating (to name a few).

-  Neurological Physiotherapy enables individuals with neurological injuries/disease to function as effectively as they can in everyday life. Therapists are trained in the analysis of ‘normal movement’. This involves understanding normal movement patterns, and how the biomechanics of the body work. If normal patterns are impaired, Neurological Physiotherapists can use a variety of techniques to facilitate better efficiency of movement.

-  Neurological rehabilitation works on the premise of neural plasticity i.e. the ability of the brain to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. 

VESTIBULAR PHYSIOTHERAPY : 

Vestibular physiotherapists are trained in very specific assessment and treatment techniques to diagnose dizziness, vertigo and balance problems, as well as provide appropriate treatments to resolve symptoms. 

Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based physiotherapy approach to the treatment of vestibular problems. It involves a customised program of exercises that are designed to re-calibrate the balance system. It is possible to significantly reduce dizziness and improve balance with this approach. Vestibular physiotherapy involves:

- Habituation exercises: these exercises involve specific movements that are designed to gently stimulate the symptoms of dizziness in order to desensitise the vestibular system to those movements. They are designed to reduce symptoms of dizziness.· 

- Eye—head coordination exercises: these exercises are designed to improve focus and reduce symptoms of dizziness.· Balance and gait exercises: these exercises involve challenging the vestibular balance system in order to strengthen it. They are designed to improve balance and confidence when walking.· 

- Re-positioning techniques: these techniques are used for a specific inner ear (vestibular) condition known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This condition results in significant symptoms of vertigo when changing position, such as when lying down or rolling over in bed. Techniques such as the Epley manoeuvre can successfully treat BPPV but should be performed by your physiotherapist with specific skills in vestibular rehabilitation

PHYSIOTHERAPY: 

Physiotherapists are experts in the structure of the human body and its movement. They work with people of all ages to treat a broad range of health conditions including sports injuries and musculoskeletal conditions as well as chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, osteoarthritis and stroke. Physiotherapy is treatment to restore, maintain, and make the most of a patient's mobility, function, and well-being.  Physiotherapy helps through physical rehabilitation, injury prevention, and health and fitness.