Vestibular System:
Dizziness, Vertigo & Balance Problems
“About Vestibular Disorders”
Dizziness and balance disorders are common and can affect people of any age, gender, race, or socioeconomic group. The symptoms may include whirling dizziness, unsteadiness or imbalance when walking, and nausea. These symptoms may be mild, lasting only minutes, or severe, resulting in total disability.
Some balance disorders are related to a problem in the inner ear, while others are the result of other health problems or diseases. The diagnosis and management of balance and vestibular disorders can be challenging since the normal processes involved in the control of balance and equilibrium are the result of complicated interactions of several senses and systems of the body. These systems include the inner ear, vision, and touch, as well as the parts of the brain that interpret and coordinate the information coming from these areas.
There are numerous products on the market to assist children with vestibular problems; unfortunately for adults products are few in number. In addition to the lack of products on the market for adults, the problem of adults having other mobility problems restricts the types of products they could use. The NexNeuro system, takes this in to account. Using a full body supporting zero gravity lounge, clients and patients are laying in a comfortable position fully supported alleviating the fear of falling.
“You Don’t Have to Live With It”
Over the years, people who experienced bouts of dizziness of balance problems had nowhere to turn. There was no treatment. They were often told, “You will have to live with it.”
Today, you overcome that helpless feeling through an alternative form of therapy called Vestibular Rehabilitation.
Let’s back up a moment and explain how the balance system works. Three sensory systems gather information regarding the body’s position or movement in space. These are the visual, vestibular (semicircular canals and otoliths) and somatosensory (touch, joint and muscle receptors) systems which transmit information to the brain’s central processor in the cerebellum. The balance response is carried out by the motor system. The right and left vestibular system are key in maintaining balance. It provides the brain with information regarding head movement and position. Disease in one vestibular system will produce misinformation to the brain and cause vertigo or imbalance. Vision helps orient the body in space by referencing vertical and horizontal axes of objects around them. The somatosensory system gives the brain information regarding support surfaces and motion of body segments between each other. Balance can be maintained with a loss of one of the three sensory systems. The brain can compensate for the loss, however, when more than one system is lost, balance difficulties will occur.
Dizziness can strike anyone. Over 76 million Americans will suffer from spinning vertigo. Those who suffer most often have inner ear disorders, positional types of vertigo, or have had surgery involving the inner ear.
How Does Vestibular Rehabilitation Work?
There are three basic concepts of vestibular rehabilitation. The first is habituation. In other words, continually repeating the actions that bring on the sense of dizziness or vertigo will eventually accustom the body to those actions. The second process involves balance retraining exercises which help to reduce unsteadiness and imbalance. The third aspect deals with head-eye coordination exercises which help reduce gaze-induced dizziness. Specific exercises customized to your particular needs will help decrease dizziness, increase balance function and also increase your general activity levels.
Diagnosing Vestibular Disorders
A physician will diagnose your particular problem by performing a complete medical history, a neurotologic examination and tests of hearing and balance function. Tests for allergies, autoimmune inner ear disease (immune reactions to your own ear tissue), or hormonal imbalance may also be necessary. In addition, an ultrasound test which evaluates the blood circulation around the brain, imaging studies with CT or MRI and a consultation with a neurologist or cardiologist might be indicated. Once a diagnosis is made, the physician (neurotologist) will be able to ascertain if vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a program which may benefit you. In some cases, this can be used as an alternative to medication or surgery. Results have been rewarding, even in the elderly.
Benefits of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
The benefits of vestibular rehabilitation vary depending on the cause of your problem and how well your central nervous system compensates.
Most rewarding are the psychological benefits of vestibular rehabilitation allowing patients to return to a normal lifestyle, free of the fear of failing, and being able once again to take control of their own body.