We have physiotherapists with specialised training to assess and treat certain vestibular conditions.
What is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system comprises part of the inner ear responsible for providing your brain with information about motion, head position and where your body is in relation to space. It maintains balance, stabilises head and body movement, and works with the eyes to maintain gaze stability during head movement.
Symptoms of Vestibular Dysfunction
Primary symptoms include dizziness, vertigo, balance impairment, and visual disturbances. Secondary effects may encompass nausea, vomiting, reduced concentration, fatigue, and anxiety or depression.
Dizziness vs. Vertigo
Dizziness involves lightheadedness and uncertainty about spatial orientation, while vertigo creates a sensation of self-motion when no self-motion is occurring, or distorted movement during normal head movements.
Common Conditions
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
The most prevalent vertigo cause, triggered by positional changes like lying down or bending over. Small calcium carbonate crystals dislodge within inner ear canals, causing abnormal nerve stimulation. The condition is treatable through particle repositioning techniques.
Vestibular Hypofunction
The balance system underperforms, resulting from nerve damage, organ injury, infections, or head trauma.
Treatment Approach
Vestibular physiotherapy involves thorough assessment, specialised testing, and targeted exercises addressing gaze stability, balance, and movement patterns. Therapists provide activity modification advice and education on habituation techniques for symptom management.