Vertigo Management

The sensation of spinning when you’re standing or sitting still is called vertigo. It is a symptom of a more significant issue. Gigi Malvas, RPT, CLT, and the team at Step Up Physical Therapy and Rehab, in North Port, Florida, manage vertigo using canalith repositioning techniques like the Epley maneuver and other physical therapy practices. To learn more about vertigo and the best practices for rehabilitation, call Step Up Physical Therapy and Rehab, or book an appointment online today.

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a symptom, not a condition. It makes you feel like you’re spinning despite standing still or that the world is spinning around you. For some people, vertigo is mild and hardly noticeable, while others experience severe, almost debilitating symptoms. In addition to the spinning sensation, you could also experience:

• Seasickness or nausea
• Loss of balance
• Dizziness
• Vomiting

Many conditions can cause vertigo. The most common ones are:

• Labyrinthitis: Labyrinthitis causes vertigo when inflammation happens in the inner ear labyrinth, affecting the vestibulocochlear nerve. 
• Vestibular neuritis: Vestibular neuritis happens when the vestibular neuritis becomes inflamed.
• Ménière’s disease: This disease causes a buildup of fluid in the ear and mainly occurs in people between ages 40 and 60.
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This disease happens when the calcium crystals in an individual’s ear become dislodged and fall into the semicircular canal. These crystals touch sensory hair cells, which causes the brain to receive inaccurate information about a person’s position, thus causing vertigo.

What is vertigo management?

The team at Step Up Physical Therapy and Rehab develops your vertigo management plan after careful evaluation and works with you closely as they track your improvement. 

Physical Therapy treatment interventions for vertigo include canalith repositioning techniques (like Epley Maneuver, Semont Maneuver, and Parnes Maneuver), habituation exercises, eye/head coordination exercises, walking program, balance training, and patient education on safety and fall prevention techniques. 

How do canalith repositioning techniques work?

Step Up Physical Therapy and Rehab uses canalith repositioning techniques like the Epley maneuver to treat vertigo caused by Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ( BPPV). The maneuver involves a simple series of head movements to dislodge crystals stuck in your inner ear canals. These crystals help your inner ear detect movement and control your balance when they’re not stuck.

The team teaches you the maneuver in the office. They’ll encourage you to practice it at home to ease the symptoms of vertigo. Once you know how to do it, you can use it whenever your vertigo returns.

If you experience bouts of vertigo regularly or on occasion, call Step Up Physical Therapy and Rehab or schedule a treatment consultation online today. If you have difficulty leaving your home to seek physical therapy treatment, we are able to provide services at your home through our partnership with local home health agencies. Feel free to inquire with our staff about this option.