Dizziness is a common issue in the general population. It is estimated that at least five percent of the Australian population (over one million people) will experience dizziness issues at some point in their lifetime. There are a number of causes for dizziness, and treatment options include medical management (eg, medications), physiotherapy and psychology intervention. Your GP can help determine the appropriate clinician for your specific needs.
Vestibular physiotherapy can be a very good option for treating symptoms of dizziness and vertigo, especially if these symptoms are triggered or aggravated by movement. In many cases dizziness that is worse with movement is caused by a disorder involving the inner ear (vestibular) system. Research has shown that vestibular physiotherapy is highly effective in treating vestibular disorders, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), viral infection of the inner ear (vestibular neuritis) and vestibular migraine (a form of migraine that causes vertigo and dizziness with or without symptoms of headache).
Your physiotherapist with specific skills in vestibular rehabilitation would conduct a comprehensive assessment of your dizziness and vertigo, and, in many cases, would be able to establish the cause for your symptoms. If unable to establish a cause for your symptoms, your physiotherapist would refer you to a medical specialist who would be able to order more extensive testing.
Vestibular physiotherapy involves:
Habituation exercises: These exercises involve specific movements that are designed to gently stimulate the symptoms of dizziness in order to desensitize the vestibular system to those movements. These 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.
