Vertigo and Vestibular/Balance Dysfunction
Anatomy
The vestibular system is a sensory system in your inner ear that is in charge of balance and spatial orientation. The vestibular system has 2 components: semicircular canals and the otoliths. The semicircular canals sense rotational movements (for example, the dizzy feeling you get when you’re rotating in a swivel chair) and the otoliths sense linear accelerations (for example, when you’re in an elevator that starts to move, even though you are not moving, you can feel the acceleration or deceleration of the elevator).
The vestibular system works closely together with the visual system (your eyes) and the somatosensory system (your sense of touch and movement from your muscles and joints) to achieve balance. Think of these 3 systems as 3 legs of a stool. When one leg is impaired, the other 2 have to work harder to achieve the same balance goal. The brain takes information from these 3 systems to know where your body is in space in order to maintain postural control and balance.
Vertigo is caused by an interruption in the semicircular canals. There are 3 semicircular canals in each inner ear. These canals are filled with fluid as thick as motor oil, called endolymph, and are usually free from any floating particles. Sometimes a particle or “crystal” from your otolith can get dislodged and start floating around in one or more of the semicircular canals.
Common Causes Of Vertigo And Vestibular/Balance Dysfunction
There are a variety of causes for vertigo and balance dysfunction. The causes can either be central or peripheral. Central vertigo is related to structures involving the brain or spinal cord. Peripheral vertigo is typically caused by problems in the inner ear, which is far more common.
Common causes of vertigo include:
- Positional changes in head
- Looking down to tie shoes
- Sitting up from bed
- Direct trauma to head and/or neck
- Whiplash following sports injury or car accident
- Concussion
Common causes of vestibular and balance dysfunction include:
- Head Injuries
- Falls
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Stroke
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
- Mal de Debarquement Syndrome
- Vestibular neuritis
- Meniere’s disease
- Peripheral vertigo
- Central vertigo
Some common symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Difficulty sitting/standing upright
- Difficulty walking
- Falls (possibly frequent)
How Physical Therapy Helps You
Most people who have experienced dizziness will avoid it at all costs. Once someone knows what activities causes dizziness, like lying completely flat on their back, they will tend to avoid it. Fortunately, most people who experience dizziness and/or difficulty with balance can get rid of it. A physical therapist can evaluate you to determine the cause of your symptoms to improve quality of life.
Following the initial evaluation, your physical therapist will determine and discuss the cause of your complaints. Together, you and your physical therapist will set goals specific to your needs and create a plan of care. Your plan of care will help you accomplish your goals and get you back to what you enjoy doing!
Do not let dizziness and worries of falling limit you from doing activities you love. Contact us to get a free phone consult and schedule an initial appointment if you’re suffering from vertigo or vestibular and balance dysfunctions.
480.269.1668