Do you suddenly feel dizzy and everything around you is spinning? Or do you feel like you're going to fall off your balance when you walk? These experiences are very disturbing, aren't they? Sometimes this can cause headaches and even fatigue. Many people suffer from these problems. But don't worry, there is a solution to this. Today we are talking about a special treatment that can help with this dizziness and loss of balance in the body.
What is Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy?
Simply put, this is not a medicine. It is a series of specific exercises that help control your dizziness and balance problems. It is a part of physiotherapy. These exercises work to re-establish the connection between your brain, inner ear, and eyes. After a while, this treatment can greatly reduce the disruption of your life caused by these annoying symptoms.
Who needs this treatment?
Dizziness can be a symptom of a variety of medical conditions. The table below shows some of the situations in which this treatment may be beneficial.
| Condition | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Vertigo | Severe dizziness that feels like things are spinning around you. |
| BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) | Severe, brief dizziness that occurs when you turn your head suddenly, look up, or roll over in bed. |
| Ménière's disease | A disease characterized by dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness in the ears. |
| Labyrinthitis and Vestibular neuritis | Sudden dizziness caused by infection or swelling in the inner ear. |
| Migraine headache | Some migraine sufferers may also experience dizziness along with headaches. |
| Stroke or traumatic brain injury (TBI) | Problems caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control balance. |
| Falling risk | Especially for the elderly, who are prone to frequent falls due to balance problems. |
How does this treatment work?
To understand this, let's first look at how our body maintains balance. Our brain is the master of this. It has three main ways of receiving information.
1. Inner Ear: Our inner ear contains a part called the vestibular labyrinth . This is made up of small rings (semicircular canals) and organs (otolith organs) that send signals to the brain about movements when we turn our heads and move around.
2. Eyes (Vision): Our eyes send information to the brain about where we are and the position of things around us in relation to us.
3. Skin, Joints, and Muscles: When we stand, walk, or bend, signals are sent to the brain from the tissues in our feet, legs, and body, telling us, "This is how we are now."
Imagine, what happens if three different messages go to the brain from these three systems? It's like receiving three reference letters from three people for the same job, and all three of them have three different stories. Then the brain becomes confused, and we start to feel dizzy and off-balance.
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises retrain the brain to work with these distorted signals. That is, the brain learns to ignore these incorrect signals and use only the correct signals to maintain balance.
What happens before and during treatment?
Before starting treatment
Before your doctor can recommend this treatment, they will first examine you to determine the exact nature of your symptoms. They may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (ENT surgeon) or an audiologist (audiologist). They may perform a series of tests called a vestibular test battery to measure the function of your inner ear.
After that, you will be referred to a physical therapist . He or she will examine your gait, balance, and strength in your arms and legs, and will develop a specific exercise program for you.
During treatment
This treatment is not the same for everyone. The exercises are determined according to your problem. The physical therapist will clearly teach you how to do these exercises. Then you can do them at home. There are three main types of exercises:
- Eye movement control exercises: Exercises that involve moving your eyes back and forth while keeping your head in one place, or looking at a moving object.
- Balance retraining exercises: First holding onto a support, then standing without support, standing with your eyes closed, standing on one leg, etc.
- Stretching and strengthening exercises: Exercises that help increase the strength and flexibility of the body.
How long does treatment take and what are the benefits?
The time it takes for this to happen varies from person to person. The length of time depends on the nature of your condition and how you respond to treatment. Typically, 6 to 8 sessions , once a week, may be needed. Some people may need just one or two sessions. Others may need to continue treatment and exercises at home for several months.
The advantages of this treatment are:
- The risk of falling is reduced.
- The body's balance improves.
- Symptoms of dizziness are reduced.
- The ability to maintain steady vision increases.
- The body's energy increases.
When should I see a doctor again?
This treatment method does not carry any major risks. However, the most important thing is that if you experience any of the symptoms below while exercising at home, you should inform your doctor immediately.
- A sudden change or decrease in hearing.
- If you feel pressure, fullness, or pain inside the ear.
- If the ringing in the ears (tinnitus) is new or increasing.
- If there is fluid draining from the ears.
- If you experience new pain or discomfort in your neck or back while exercising.
Don't ignore symptoms like these. They could be a sign of another problem.
Take-Home Message
- Vestibular rehabilitation (VRT) is a special exercise treatment for dizziness and imbalance.
- This works by re-strengthening the connection between your brain, eyes, and inner ear, controlling dizziness.
- To find out if this treatment is right for you and to learn the right exercises, be sure to see your doctor and a physical therapist.
- To get the best results, it is very important to continue doing the exercises you are given at home exactly.
- If you develop new symptoms (such as ear pain, hearing loss) while exercising, notify your doctor immediately.
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