How Physical Therapists Can Help with Dizziness

Dizziness otherwise known as vertigo might have been fun and thrilling as a child but it could be derailing and quite scary for adults. It renders many unproductive and culminates into the loss of zeal and excitement over life due to the constant feeling of drowsiness and the accompanying weariness. It entails a lot of confusion, worry, and some niggling symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and constant retching. The issue can be too grave and serious with its main underlying cause being an inner ear problem that causes other unwarranted effects such as the loss of balance among others.

This issue has been quite difficult to treat using mainstream medical options hence people have constantly sought for an alternative or adjunct to these mainstream solutions. One example of this alternative is physical therapy though many remain unaware, doubtful, or skeptical about its efficacy when it comes to treating dizziness.

Assessment

This is primary and central to successful treatment of dizziness to determine the main factors causing the issue. This helps the therapist to know the best form of treatment for you by coming up with a bespoke plan after ensuring that there is no misdiagnosis. The assessment is done with the use of specialized equipment hence you should ensure that you do some thorough research before checking in with a therapist to avoid visiting an inexperienced doctor who is not well equipped with the requisite tools and devices as this could pose very serious and calamitous consequences.

Alterations of the Head Position

For proper treatment, a good diagnosis is paramount as discussed above. Infrared goggles are very instrumental in the diagnosis process. They help reflect or depict the problem through a proper illumination of the patient’s eyes on the screen for the doctor to view and make a definitive assessment. The position is very vital in this test and many doctors usually prefer to commence the test on the good side and finish with the most affected and deteriorated side. When the patient is laid back of his head for some time, the doctor is able to identify the main issue and the side that is predominantly affected hence culminating in the dizziness.

Dizziness can be detected easily with the use of infrared goggles since the eye movements and any inhibition or inability to control them is clearly discernible. One of the indicators of the dizziness issue is when the eyes are constantly moving around in a circular motion and more so when it is quite impossible to control and bring involuntary movements to a halt.  This is remedied with the use of these movements in physical therapy since the alteration of the head position helps in the immediate shift of the calcium particles from the ear canal and they are deposited in the innermost chambers of the ear for subsequent absorption. These physical therapy maneuvers ought to be repeated at home too and the patient can expect the symptoms to dissipate within a fortnight or less depending on the gravity of the prevailing issue.

Lifestyle Adjustments

A physical therapist is able to know the main triggers and causes of your problem. Some could be work-related or lifestyle instigated issues and the therapist is able to render appropriate advice pertaining to how this can be sorted and the dizziness alleviated forthwith. This entails a concerted effort between the therapist and the patient since openness and transparency can help identify why the dizziness is quite prevalent and unrelenting.

Exercise

This is at the heart of physical therapy and its eventual success in the treatment of dizziness. Exercises in physical therapy are extremely varied hence it is incumbent upon the therapist to come up with a bespoke plan specifically tailored for each patient. This is premised on his issue and what needs to be addressed based on the magnitude of the problem and its cause, which can differ from one person to another.

Some of the exercises that can aid with dizziness include those that target and help with balance and those that help your brain to alter and rectify any variations in your inner ears. Some exercises also deal with vision so as to ensure that you can be to focus accordingly whilst building up a tolerance to some scenarios which could make you feel uncomfortable on account of being excessively stimulating. Some exercises could also target your strength and flexibility if the therapist deems it fit.

If you have been suffering from dizziness, it is important to consult a physical therapist. They can help with the diagnosis and treatment of your condition for greater relief. However, you may want to check with your doctor first to eliminate any underlying conditions.