Experiencing Dizziness?

Did you know?

• 40% of Americans experience some form of dizziness

• 35% of adults 40 years and older experience dizziness

• Dizziness is the #3 reason adults 65 years and older seek medical care and the #1 reason adults 70 years and older seek medical care

• 50% of adults 65 years and older with complaints of dizziness develop BPPV

• BPPV is a cause of vertigo/dizziness that can be treated in 1-2 physical therapy sessions

What is “Dizziness” or “Vertigo”?

Vertigo is defined as an abnormal sense of movement or orientation. This can include dizziness, feelings of spinning or swaying, moving when you are not, abnormal sense of upright, disequilibrium, and imbalance. These symptoms can come on gradually, or they may have a sudden onset.

What Causes Dizziness?

There are many reasons why a person may be feeling dizzy or off balance. Some of these include central problems of the brain or nerves, migraines, and vestibular system disorders (inner ear disorders). There are a variety of diagnostic tests to determine causative factors and each case of dizziness is unique.

What are the Treatment Options?

There are a variety of treatments options available for dizziness or vertigo. Physicians, Audiologists, Optometrists, Neurologists, and even physical therapists can help determine which treatment options are best for you based on your specific case. Exercise can be a great tool to help ease the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo.

How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Physical therapy can help determine the root cause of dizziness and imbalance. There are a variety of exercises that a physical therapist can prescribe to help with vision/eye movements, movement of head and neck, trunk stability, and overall balance. BPPV is a common cause of dizziness, and can be treated in 1-2 sessions!

Your vestibular system and inner ear are complex systems! But, they are very resilient systems, able to adapt, and respond well to treatment.

**If you have questions, are experiencing symptoms of dizziness, or know someone experiencing dizziness give us a call at Richmond Physical Therapy so we can help!