Vertigo is a sensation that you or your surroundings are moving, spinning, or shifting when there is no actual movement. It can occur for several reasons and may affect balance, walking, and everyday activities. Vestibular Physiotherapy Grande Prairie focuses on assessing balance, movement, and vestibular function to identify factors that may contribute to dizziness or vertigo and determine whether physiotherapy may be appropriate.
What Causes Vertigo?
Vertigo can have different causes. One common cause is a problem within the inner ear, where the vestibular system helps the brain understand head position and movement.
Some conditions associated with vertigo include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular neuritis
- Labyrinthitis
- Ménière's disease
- Vestibular migraine
- Head injuries or concussion
- Changes affecting the inner ear
The symptoms and underlying cause can vary considerably from one person to another. This is why an assessment is important before beginning a rehabilitation program.
What Does Vertigo Feel Like?
People experiencing vertigo may describe a spinning or moving sensation. Other symptoms can occur at the same time, depending on the underlying condition.
Possible symptoms include:
- Spinning sensations
- Feeling unsteady
- Difficulty walking
- Nausea
- Changes in balance
- Sensitivity to movement
- Difficulty moving the head
- Feeling uncomfortable in busy environments
- Difficulty maintaining visual focus while moving
Some symptoms may occur only during specific movements, such as turning in bed, looking upward, standing, or walking.
How Does the Vestibular System Affect Balance?
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and works with your eyes, muscles, joints, and brain to maintain balance and spatial awareness.
When information from these systems does not match correctly, you may experience dizziness, imbalance, or difficulty coordinating movement. Vestibular physiotherapy assesses these factors and may use targeted exercises to help the body adapt to changes in balance and movement.
When Can Vestibular Physiotherapy Help?
Vestibular physiotherapy may be considered when dizziness, balance problems, or movement-related symptoms are affecting everyday activities.
During an assessment, your physiotherapist may evaluate:
- Balance
- Walking
- Eye movements
- Head movement
- Coordination
- Posture
- Functional mobility
- Responses to different movement positions
The results can help determine whether vestibular rehabilitation is appropriate and which exercises may be included in your program.
What Exercises May Be Included?
Depending on the assessment findings and underlying condition, vestibular physiotherapy may include:
Gaze Stabilization Exercises
These exercises involve coordinating eye and head movements to support visual stability during movement.
Balance Exercises
Balance activities may be used to work on stability while standing, walking, changing direction, or moving across different surfaces.
Habituation Exercises
Some programs include repeated, controlled movements that reproduce mild symptoms while allowing the body to gradually adapt.
Walking and Functional Exercises
Exercises may focus on walking, turning, changing direction, or performing everyday movements that have become difficult.
When Should You Seek an Assessment?
If vertigo is persistent, repeatedly returns, affects your ability to walk, or interferes with everyday activities, consider speaking with a healthcare professional. A medical assessment may be necessary to determine the underlying cause, particularly when vertigo is new or occurs with other concerning symptoms.
Seek urgent medical attention if dizziness or vertigo occurs with symptoms such as sudden weakness, difficulty speaking, severe headache, fainting, chest pain, or significant changes in vision.
Supporting Daily Activities With Vestibular Rehabilitation
The goal of vestibular rehabilitation is to address movement and balance difficulties based on your assessment and functional needs. Your program may be adjusted as your symptoms and physical abilities change.
If you are searching for Vertigo Treatment Grande Prairie, Junction Point Physical Therapy provides vestibular assessments and rehabilitation programs for individuals experiencing vertigo, dizziness, and balance difficulties. If you are looking for Physiotherapy Grande Prairie, an assessment can help you understand your symptoms and determine whether vestibular physiotherapy may be appropriate for your daily activities.
