We recently worked with a patient–let’s call her Meredith–who was having trouble with her balance. She struggled with persistent bouts of vertigo and dizziness, which led to her falling on more than one occasion. But then a friend suggested she try physical therapy for dizziness, which brought her to King Physical Therapy.
Dizziness and balance issues can arise from various causes, including inner ear problems, neurological conditions, or even medication side effects. In Meredith’s case, she had developed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Crystal buildups in her inner ear interfered with her body’s balance system, causing persistent symptoms. However, she had some muscular weakness that contributed to her balance difficulties.
The King Physical Therapy team has experience identifying the root cause of symptoms like dizziness or vertigo and using that information to create tailored treatment plans. These plans often involve exercises that strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and enhance your body’s ability to balance itself.
Focusing on specific areas of weakness helped Meredith regain control and confidence in her movements–and we can do the same for you! Keep reading to learn more about physical therapy for dizziness.
Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Difficulties: What’s the Difference?
Certain symptoms are regularly mentioned when discussing vestibular challenges like the one Meredith experienced: dizziness, vertigo, and balance difficulties. Many people don’t fully understand the differences between the three.
Dizziness
- Dizziness is a general term to describe any feelings of being lightheaded, unsteady, or woozy. Because dizziness has a number of different causes, most people have experienced dizziness at least once, such as after getting off a rollercoaster or standing up too quickly.
Vertigo
- Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that causes a spinning sensation. You may feel like you’re spinning around (even though you’re standing still), or the room is. Vertigo generally stems from issues with the inner ear.
Balance Difficulties
- If you struggle to stay upright while walking or standing, then we would say you have balance difficulties. Dizziness and vertigo can contribute to balance challenges, but improving your balance also involves strengthening your core and lower extremities and challenging your existing sense of balance, which can be developed like any other physical ability.
How Physical Therapy Helps with Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Challenges
The King Physical Therapy physical therapists will start by assessing your current symptoms and concerns, which will help us develop your personalized treatment program. We pull from several different interventions:
Epley Maneuver
- One of the techniques we used to help Meredith was the Epley maneuver, a series of head movements that helped dislodge the crystals that had built up in her inner ear. These maneuvers dramatically reduced her vertigo symptoms.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
- Vestibular rehabilitation is one of the primary approaches in physical therapy for dizziness. It involves exercises that aim to retrain the brain to compensate for inner ear problems. These exercises may include eye and head movements, balance training, and specific maneuvers to reduce vertigo.
Balance and Gait Training
- Balance training involves activities that improve stability and coordination. We’ll show you specialized exercises that challenge your balance to help you gradually improve it. Gait training focuses on improving your walking patterns so you’re less likely to fall.
Strength Training
- Along with balance and gait training, we’ll help you exercise regularly and build strength in your core muscles, which play an important role in keeping you balanced. This was another technique we used for Meredith, helping to improve her overall balance and stability.
Find Dizziness Relief with Physical Therapy
No matter the reason for your balance challenges, our King Physical Therapy team has the expertise to ensure you get the best possible outcomes. We’ll work closely with you to find the best treatment interventions to suit your needs.
Don’t let dizziness keep you from living your life to the fullest. Contact us today to schedule your initial assessment!
