Dizziness and vertigo—the unsettling sensations of losing orientation, control, or balance—can be frightening, especially when their cause is unclear. When persistent, they disrupt daily life, drain confidence, and trigger anxiety. Often linked to issues in the vestibular system of the inner ear or other musculoskeletal problems, these conditions are highly treatable through physical therapy. At JAG PT, serving New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, our specialists provide personalized vestibular rehabilitation that helps many patients achieve significant relief from dizziness and balance issues. Book your appointment today or read on to learn how physical therapy can help.
What Causes Dizziness and Vertigo?
Both dizziness generally and vertigo more specifically can be the unpleasant results of the conditions mentioned above. Dizziness refers to any of the sensations commonly described as lightheadedness, unsteady gait or standing, and the feeling of “the world spinning around you” – all of which affect equilibrium in subtly different ways. Vertigo is the term for a specific sensation of illusionary motion – that is to say, the feeling that you are moving uncontrollably although you are standing still. Vertigo is often accompanied by nausea and even vomiting, and it is more likely to lead to falling than general dizziness, making it one of the most severe balance-related symptoms.
One of the commonest causes of both of these issues is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. In this disorder, the otoliths – calcium carbonate structures in the inner ear that allow the body to measure position and acceleration – become dislodged from their normal places. This otolith disruption can be caused by a head injury or simply aging, and it may result in multiple brief periods of vertigo in a row with movement.
Two other direct causes of vertigo are related forms of inflammation – labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis. Both occur in the inner ear and are believed to be the result of a viral infection. Labyrinthitis involves the fluid-filled chambers within the skull’s temporal bones, called the membranous labyrinth, while vestibular neuritis affects the branch of one of the cranial nerves that transmits signals related to balance. Both of these inflammatory conditions can cause severe vertigo as well as tinnitus or hearing loss.
Finally, various health issues that cause some kind of damage or change near the inner ear can contribute to dizziness and vertigo – these may include chronic migraine headaches, a history of concussions, and even simply age-related changes in the brain.
How Does Physical Therapy Help Treat Vertigo and Dizziness?
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is the branch of physical therapy that is dedicated to treating inner ear issues and relieving symptoms that most prominently include dizziness and vertigo. A vestibular therapist will use different techniques in combination depending on the cause of the patient’s balance problems and other factors.
One specialized method from VRT used in cases of BPPV is the Epley maneuver, which involves guiding the patient through a specific, complex sequence of movements in order to move the otoliths back into normal position. Other modalities can be used for both BPPV and different causes of vertigo as well, such as balance and gaze stabilization exercises, and habituation strategies like using particular head and arm movements while walking. All in all, many of these methods train the brain to get less dizzy in particular body positions over time, thus gradually improving function.
When Should You See a Physical Therapist for Dizziness?
Dizziness or vertigo may resolve with time, but without a professional opinion, you have no way of knowing if these symptoms will recur. Furthermore, you should definitely consult a physical therapist if your balance problems interfere with your day-to-day routine, are triggered by multiple different forms of physical position change or by casual head movement, or started after you had a concussion or ear infection. With symptoms like these, early intervention is important because they could easily lead to serious injury from a fall or other accident.
Is Vestibular Physical Therapy Safe for Older Adults?
In general, vestibular PT is safe and effective for anyone of any age who has a dizziness or balance-related health condition. The techniques used are well-researched, gentle, and non-invasive. In fact, older people with concerns related to falling can be helped by both vestibular therapy and other modalities within a PT setting. In particular, the balance training techniques of VRT are used in the fall prevention aspect of injury prevention for older adults. Regardless of the patient’s age, vestibular therapy, just like any other branch of physical therapy, is meant to go at the patient’s pace and be tailored to their lifestyle and physical ability.
Schedule Vestibular Therapy at JAG Physical Therapy
Chronic dizziness and vertigo can be troubling in many ways. If you’re dealing with these symptoms you likely want to be rid of them as soon as possible and get back to your routine without discomfort or fear of falling. JAG PT offers high-quality vestibular rehabilitation therapy in convenient clinic locations around New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. When you start VRT with us, you’ll get a custom recovery plan that prioritizes your lifestyle – schedule an appointment now to start treating your balance-related condition using proven, noninvasive methods.