Vertigo and Dizziness

By: Laura McBurnett, PT, MHSPT

There are many causes of vertigo, and it can be a debilitating issue. Vertigo is not a condition but rather a symptom, and it can cause other symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, feeling of imbalance and fullness in the ears. Conditions that lead to feelings of vertigo include loss or irritation of the vestibular system, positional vertigo (BPPV) and concussion. Cervical spine dysfunction can also contribute to these problems. These conditions can be treated with physical therapy. 

Our bodies have several overlapping systems that assist in our balance and overall control of movement. Our vestibular system is in the inner ear and responds to changes in head position and body position. Our eyes work closely with the vestibular system giving visual input to the brain about our surroundings. We have receptors in our joints and our muscles which fine tune our movement and responses to the world around us. Lastly, we have sensation through our skin to give us input about our surroundings. The redundancy in these systems allows us to overcome the loss or partial loss of any one system.  

The physical therapy team at A Step Ahead Physical Therapy will do a detailed assessment of your symptoms and design a program specific to your needs. These treatments include: 

• Canalith repositioning (for BPPV) – Specific techniques are used to address the problem based on evaluation. 

• Habituation exercises- Repeated exposure to aggravating activities using visual targets to decrease onset of your symptoms 

• Adaptation exercises- Learning to use other systems to overcome loss of vestibular function. 

• Balance activities-Using a variety of positions and surfaces to activate all our senses to assist in balance 

• Exercises and manual therapy to improve posture and cervical spine mobility 

  
  

Vertigo and its accompanying symptoms can be very unpleasant. Physical Therapy has been shown to assist in decreasing the severity and intensity of these symptoms using habituation and adaptation and in the case of BPPV, canalith repositioning can usually completely fix the symptoms. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing vertigo, dizziness or loss of balance, give us a call today to get started on the right path.  Call us at 770-998-6636

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura McBurnett: Laura has been practicing Physical Therapy for over 40 years. She received her BS in Physical Therapy from Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University and her Masters in Health Science from University of Indianapolis. Laura is a Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, and she is also certified in Myofascial Therapy and Dry Needling. She enjoys treating a variety of orthopedic conditions, vestibular problems and TMJ.