If you or a loved one are experiencing dizzy spells or vertigo, it may be caused by an inner ear issue, and you might be a candidate for vestibular therapy (or brain rehabilitation). And you’re not alone; more than 30 million Americans suffer from a balance disorder. At Physical Therapy & Injury Specialists, Englewood, CO, we specialize in evaluating imbalance issues and determining a proper treatment plan to help you recover.
Reference: nidcd.nih.gov
What is vestibular therapy?
Vestibular therapy (VT) is a special therapy that helps manage balance issues. It works by targeting your inner ears. Usually, the fluid in your ears helps your body stay aligned. However, if something goes wrong, you can feel like everything is spinning. This is where VT can be useful.
VT involves a series of exercises that help your inner ear function the right way. You’ll do these motions both at VT and at home. A trained therapist will guide you through various motions and activities such as:
- Bending your head back and forth
- Moving your eyes from side to side
- Shrugging shoulders
- Bending over
- Moving your head with closed eyes
Most patients use VT as a brief treatment after an injury or illness. After six to eight sessions, people usually feel better. Some people with chronic problems can benefit from more visits, though.
Advanced Vestibular Rehabilitation
Our affiliate clinic, High Definition Physical Therapy, operates an advanced multi-axial rotational system (MARS/GyroStim) that has produced outstanding results for patients with vestibular disorders.
Learn more here: highdefinitionpt.com
What conditions can be treated with vestibular therapy?
Some common reasons that people get VT include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: This causes a spinning feel whenever you move your head.
- Labyrinthitis: This happens after an infection and can cause vertigo and balance issues.
- Ménière’s disease: This chronic problem causes both hearing loss and vertigo.
- Stroke: A stroke happens after a blockage of your brain’s blood flow. It can damage the nerves leading to the ears and cause vertigo.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI or concussion can damage either the ears or the nearby nerves. This can result in vertigo, headaches, memory loss, concentration difficulty, and other issues.
- Vestibular neuritis: This causes nausea, vertigo, and dizziness. It often occurs after a viral infection.
How well does it work?
VT works through multiple methods, so it has many satisfied patients. The exercises help to assist with inner ear problems such as swelling. In addition to restoring some inner ear functioning, they also retrain your body to work with altered ear input. Over time, VT helps people get used to vestibular problems so they can move around without feeling queasy.
Does insurance cover vestibular therapy?
VT is typically a type of medical care insurance companies will pay for. However, the precise cost assistance they’ll provide depends on your insurance plan. With some plans, you might need to pay a small fee or pay a percentage of the total costs. Other plans may only cover VT when a doctor prescribes it to you. To see how much your insurance covers them, you’ll need to contact them and ask. Or feel free to contact our office, and we can walk you through the process.
How to get started
Feelings of dizziness or vertigo can significantly limit your daily life, making it difficult to perform even the simplest tasks without feeling like you might fall over. Fortunately, at Physical Therapy & Injury Specialists (PTIS), our physical therapists offer some of the most effective brain and vestibular rehab services in Englewood, CO, at our physical therapy clinics on Pearl St. and S Maroon. Our multimodal therapy services aim to retrain your vestibular system to regulate feelings of stability and balance. Schedule your appointment today.