Initial Assessment  
 
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VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION
 
Nicola Harris  

VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION

This is a type of physiotherapy specifically designed to treat patients suffering from vertigo, dizziness, nausea and loss of balance.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BALANCE PROBLEM

You have two balance organs, one located in each ear. These organs send complementary information about head and body movements to the balance centre in the brain.

This information is essential for the maintenance of balance. If either of these balance organs sends incorrect information to the brain the result is dizziness and imbalance. This may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.

Although this condition can be very frightening, it is not usually serious or life threatening. It can be improved by practising special balance exercises.

 

BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO

This is one of the most common causes of dizziness due to a disorder of the balance organ. Tiny crystals inside the canals of the inner ear become loose. The patient suffers from intermittent episodes of vertigo, lasting approximately 1 minute. The vertigo is usually provoked by head movements such as rolling over in bed or looking upwards.

To treat this, we can perform a simple head manoeuvre, this is called the Epley manoeuvre.

Initial Assessment

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP

The treatment involves an initial assessment, lasting approximately 1 hour, during which you will be asked to perform some simple exercises. These exercises range from moving the eyes and head to standing on a balance pad with your eyes closed. Your balance will also be assessed using a computerised balance test.

From the assessment, we will develop a customized exercise programme for you. We will ask you to practice these exercises regularly at home.

The treatment programme may last for several months during which time you will need to see the physiotherapist approximately once a month. Your symptoms will be re-assessed and your exercise programme updated at each visit.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO WEAR ANY SPECIAL CLOTHING FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

CONDITIONS TREATED IN THE PRACTICE

  • UNILATERAL PERIPHERAL VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION
  • BILATERAL PERIPHERAL VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION
  • BENIGN PAROXYSMAL POSITIONAL VERTIGO
  • VESTIBULAR NEURITIS
  • PERIPHERAL VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION DUE TO TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY
  • MAL DE DEBARQUEMENT
  • DISQUILIBRIUM ASSOCIATED WITH AGEING
  • MENIERE'S DISEASE (PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH IMBALANCE BETWEEN ATTACKS)
  • POST OPERATIVE REHABILITATION FOLLOWING REMOV AL OF ACOUSTIC NEUROMA