Vestibular Physiotherapy - Expert Physios For Vertigo Treatment Essendon, Niddrie and North West Melbourne.
Our Physios Specialise in Vestibular Physiotherapy
Vestibular physiotherapy treats the frustrating conditions of dizziness and vertigo.
This may include:
Vestibular vertigo treatment
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo treatment
Vestibular rehabilitation
Treatment of vestibular migraine and
Physiotherapy for other vestibular disorders
Dizziness and vertigo have similar symptoms but with some specific differences.
Dizziness is a general term used to describe sensations such as light headedness, giddiness, disorientation and unsteadiness. Vertigo is easier to describe and involves a sensation that the room or the environment is spinning.
Vertigo is highly characteristic of an inner ear (vestibular) complaint, whereas there are a number of different causes for sensations of dizziness. These include inner ear (vestibular) disorders, reduced blood flow to the brain (vascular), neck (cervicogenic) issues, psychological and mild traumatic brain injury (concussion).
Research has determined that inner ear (vestibular) disorders are the cause for dizziness and vertigo in at least 50 per cent of cases. If your symptoms of dizziness and vertigo are triggered or made worse by moving quickly, then it is highly likely that they are caused by a problem in the inner ear (vestibular) system.
Vestibular exercises.
Physios For Vestibular Disorders
KRP physiotherapists are specialists in vestibular physiotherapy & relief of the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo - especially if these symptoms are triggered or made worse by movement. In many cases, dizziness that is worse with movement is caused by a disorder involving the inner ear (vestibular) system. Research has shown that vestibular physiotherapy is highly effective in treating vestibular disorders, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), viral infection of the inner ear (vestibular neuritis) and vestibular migraine (a form of migraine that causes vertigo and dizziness with or without symptoms of headache).
KRP can help you reduce symptoms of dizziness or vertigo through improved function, increased balance and reduced risk of falling following vestibular physiotherapy.
Servicing Niddrie, Essendon, Airport West, Keilor & Melbourne’s Northern suburbs for over 40 years, you can book with one of our highly trained vestibular experts online here or call 93794557 to speak to one of our admin superstars and get your balance back.
What Are Vestibular Disorders?
Vestibular disorders are conditions which affect the vestibular system; part of the inner ear and brain that help control balance and eye movement.
Common symptoms of vestibular conditions can include:
Vertigo (room spinning)
Dizziness
Light headedness
Imbalance
Trouble concentrating
Motion sickness
Increased anxiety
Disequilibrium/disorientation/giddiness/unsteadiness on your feet
Differentiating between conditions which cause these symptoms and providing specific treatment strategies is incredibly important and something Keilor Road Physiotherapists are experts in.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (or BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, which is a false sensation of spinning.
Benign – it is not life-threatening
Paroxysmal – it comes in sudden, brief spells
Positional – it gets triggered by certain head positions or movements
Vertigo – a false sense of rotational movement
BPPV is a condition where floating calcium particles that are present in the inner ear canal, have become dislodged from their usual position. These crystals migrate into one of the semi-circular canals of the inner ear, where they’re not supposed to be. When enough of these particles accumulate in one of the canals they interfere with the normal fluid movement that these canals use to sense head motion, causing the inner ear to send false signals to the brain that results in vertigo.
Management: Though many people are given medication for BPPV, there is no evidence to support its use in treatment of this condition. In the vast majority of cases, BPPV can be corrected conservatively using the Epley Manoeuvre, performed by one of our experienced Vestibular Physiotherapists. Additionally, before testing or treating for BPPV, physiotherapists here at Keilor Road Physiotherapy perform a careful neurological screen, evaluation of the neck, and other safety-related tests to determine if certain elements of the procedure need to be modified or avoided.
Many studies have been done into the effectiveness of treatment manoeuvres for BPPV, with results showing rates of resolution well into the 90% range when performed by a trained physiotherapist. Treatment of the upper part of the neck, exercises for control and balance of the head on the neck and balance retraining also make up parts of the holistic rehabilitation program we offer here at Keilor Road Physiotherapy for BPPV.
Cervicogenic Dizziness
This consists of dizziness associated with a musculoskeletal condition of the neck. Symptoms can include neck pain and stiffness, dizziness and headaches.
People with cervicogenic dizziness tend to complain of dizziness or general disorientation (a sensation of movement of the self or the environment) that is often worse during head movements or after maintaining certain neck positions for a long time. Dizziness or light-headedness usually occurs during or soon after experiencing neck pain, stiffness and/or decreased neck range of motion. It may be accompanied by an occipital (back of the head) headache.
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises must be customized to address the problems found on the evaluation and may include eye exercises, balance exercises, walking, or graded exposure to neck movements or environments that make patients dizzy.
Management: Once other causes of dizziness have been ruled out, hands on treatment of the upper neck is indicated in treating cervicogenic dizziness. This includes massage, gentle mobilization and stretches in the acute phase, followed by strength exercises for the neck, upper back and core. These strategies, coupled with instruction in proper posture and neck positioning form the holistic approach you can expect here at KRP.
Vestibular therapy.
Vestibular Migraine
Vestibular migraine (VM) is a headache disorder in which typical migraine headaches occur with dizziness, vertigo and/or imbalance. Approximately 40% of migraine patients have some accompanying vestibular syndrome involving disruption of their balance and/or dizziness at one time or another.
Vestibular migraine can cause vestibular or balance symptoms with or without an actual headache.
There is almost always a history of motion sensitivity (such as car sickness) since childhood, and migraine headaches at some point in the person's lifetime, even if they last occurred decades ago.
Many of the triggers for migraine headaches can cause a vestibular migraine.
Management: The benefits of vestibular rehabilitation are well documented to reduce symptoms and restore function for vestibular migraine-related disorders. With vestibular migraines, it is often helpful for the patient to have started the prescribed migraine medications prior to beginning the vestibular rehabilitation course.
Postural instability and gait alterations respond to balance and gait-training tasks and exercises, employing both static and dynamic type balance exercises. Dual tasking and exercises that combine hand-eye coordination, balance maintenance, and gaze stability are effective as well, and can be combined with general conditioning exercises to the extent tolerated by the patient’s general health. Performing exercises on various surface textures and variable stabilities also is recommended.
In migraine patients with neck pain and cervical muscle spasms that limit range of motion, treatment may also include modalities and manual mobilization and stretching of the upper cervical segments, in order to diminish the muscle spasms and guarding and restore normal mobility to the neck.
Learn more about Vestibular Disorders
What Does Vestibular Therapy Involve?
Your unique set of symptoms will be assessed, with detail, education and clear, concise explanation fundamental in making sure you understand exactly what is happening, 100% of the time. This is provided in the form of a take home Tailored Health Plan.
Vestibular physiotherapy involves a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that may include hands on physiotherapy, customised exercises to address the problems found on evaluation and can centre around progressive eye exercises, balance exercises, walking, or graded exposure to neck movements or environments that produce your symptoms.
Do I Need A Referral?
You don’t need a referral to see any of the experienced physiotherapists here at KRP. Being primary care health providers, all of physiotherapists are equipped with the skills to be able to offer an accurate diagnosis and tailored health plan on day one of your treatment journey.
We also have access to the best Doctors and Specialists in Melbourne, who are only a phone call or email away for us.
You can also access Medicare Physiotherapy, for treatment of your Vestibular disorder, through your GP. Details about our affordable Medicare Physio can be found here.
Can The Appointment Take Place Over Video / Phone?
We also offer Telehealth appointments, including initial assessment, for those that are isolating, working from home, or may be too symptomatic to leave the house. Conversations via video call or over the phone remove travel time and lower the cost of an appointment, not to mention how easy and convenient it is.
Learn more about Telehealth physio and online physio
Is the appointment covered by Medicare?
If you have been dealing with your condition for longer than 6 months, or if your condition is likely to last longer than 6 months, you can arrange a Chronic Disease Management Plan or CDM (formerly Enhanced Primary Care plan or EPC) through your GP for a maximum of 5 physiotherapy visits covered by Medicare. Learn more about if your physio appointment is covered by Medicare.
Contact our friendly expert physios at KRP
Servicing Niddrie, Essendon, Airport West, Keilor & the Northern suburbs for over 40 years, you can book with one of our vestibular experts online here or call 93794557 to speak to one of our admin superstars.