Signs And Symptoms of Vertigo

Vertigo is a sensation of feeling-off balance. One who suffers from vertigo may feel like they are moving or spinning, even when they’re not. It also may feel like your surroundings are in motion when they aren’t. Vertigo is not a disease – it’s a symptom of varying conditions. Vertigo Physical therapy near Stony Brook NY can relieve your symptoms and get you on track to enjoying your life. 

Types of Vertigo 

There are two main types of vertigo: 

Peripheral vertigo – A problem causes this in the inner ear or vestibular nerve areas, which connects the inner ear and brain and controls your balance. This is the most common type of vertigo in people. The most common causes of inner ear trouble that lead to peripheral vertigo are benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuronitis, and Meniere’s disease. 

Central vertigo – This happens when there is a glitch in the brain, particularly in the cerebellum area. A disease of injury often causes central vertigo to the brain, such as head injuries, some illness, migraines, multiple sclerosis, brain tumors, strokes, shingles in or near the ear, ear surgery, prolonged bed rest, diabetes, low blood pressure (orthostatic hypotensions), ataxia, and others. 

Symptoms of Vertigo 

Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head. Those who suffer from vertigo often describe the feeling of spinning, tilting, swaying, unbalance, and being pulled to one direction. Some other symptoms may include: 

• Feeling nauseated 
• Vomiting 
• Abnormal or jerking eye movements 
• Headaches 
• Sweating 
• Ringing in the ears and/or hearing loss 

Symptoms of vertigo may last for only a few minutes to a few hours or more. Symptoms can be managed and relieved through vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY with Island Sports Physical Therapy. Vertigo and dizziness can often be confused. Both dizziness and vertigo are considered to be balance problems, although the two symptoms are different. With dizziness, it is an overall feeling of being unbalanced. For vertigo, it usually has sensations that you are moving or that your surroundings are spinning when they are not. 

Treatments for Vertigo 

Treatment depends on several factors for each individual’s vertigo, including the root of cause. There are a few common vertigo treatments: 

• Medication. By treating the root of cause for your vertigo, it can help ease the symptoms. For example, if you are experiencing vertigo due to an infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics. Besides that, there are several other medications to relieve other vertigo symptoms. 
• Vestibular rehabilitation. If you experience vertigo due to an inner ear problem, vestibular rehabilitation is a form of vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY that may help reduce your symptoms. This form of PT works to strengthen your other senses so that they can compensate for vertigo episodes. 
• Canalith repositioning procedure (CRP). If you suffer from BPPV, this procedure helps move calcium deposits into an inner ear chamber where your body will absorb them. It is a method to remove the crystals trapped in the ear’s semicircular canal. This is used when the cause of vertigo is the displacement of small calcium carbonate crystals within the inner ear. 
• Surgery. If vertigo is due to a serious underlying issue, such as a brain tumor, undergoing surgery may be necessary for recovery. 

Vertigo Physical Therapy Near Stony Brook NY

The symptoms of vertigo can be frustrating and uncomfortable for those suffering. Island Sports Physical Therapy offers individualized treatment and personal care for each patient for physical therapy and recovery. Contact us today to request your appointment! You can count on our team when you need vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY.

What Does Physical Therapy Do For Vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation that the environment around you is spinning in circles, often making you feel dizzy and off-balance. There are two different main types of vertigo: peripheral vertigo and central vertigo. With peripheral vertigo, there is a problem with the inner ear. In central vertigo, there is an issue with the brain. Vertigo can happen to anyone but is most common in people over the age of 65. Women are more likely to experience vertigo than men are. Vertigo can last from a few seconds to several minutes, or sometimes longer. Many people compare vertigo to motion sickness, as it can make you feel like you are spinning or tilting. Those feelings of unbalance may worsen when you stand, walk, or change positions. If you have questions about how you can benefit from vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY contact the team at ISPT.

Physical Therapy for Vertigo

With an individualized evaluation and assessment, vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY will design a treatment plan specific to your case. The exact treatment for your vertigo will depend on the cause. In physical therapy for vertigo, the main focus of the physical therapist is to help you get moving and manage vertigo at the same time. There are four common techniques used to treat and manage vertigo. 

The most common technique is the Epley maneuver, which is effective in treating mechanical ear imbalances. These include the loose crystals that cause BPPV. Another technique is the Semont maneuver, which involves moving the patient rapidly from lying on one side to the other. After the physical therapist determines which vestibular system is being affected by BBV, the procedure should be done and your dizziness and vertigo should be gone in a day or two. Another technique used in physical therapy for vertigo near Stony Brook NY is the Foster maneuver. The physical therapist might need to repeat this a few times for relief. Lastly is the Brandt-Daroff exercise. This series of movements are often used to treat BPPV. 

Advantages of Using Physical Therapy for Vertigo 

While there are some home remedies and exercises that you can do yourself to treat vertigo, the help of a trained physical therapist is going to be more helpful. They are able to assess your problem and try to identify the root cause of your vertigo, which then plays into the treatment plan for your specific case. Simply picking up one exercise randomly can potentially do more harm than good, so it is in your best interest to work with a trusted, well-trained physical therapist. 

After the physical therapist assesses your specific symptoms, you will be suggested numerous therapeutic exercises designed for you. These exercises, specifically designed for your case of vertigo, can reduce the intensity of your symptoms and/or work to eliminate them completely. A physical therapist also periodically re-evaluates you and your case to check for improvement or changes that should be made. This helps to track your progress and utilize the most effective types of exercises.  Additionally, a physical therapist can help you with any questions that you may have. Opting for physical therapy to treat vertigo can be extremely beneficial and successful in improving your personal condition. 

Vertigo Physical Therapy Near Stony Brook NY

To treat your individual case of vertigo, Island Sports Physical Therapy offers the best care for each specific patient. With individualized care and the attention that you need to improve, our trained physical therapists work to alleviate your symptoms and improve your quality of life living with vertigo. Contact us today to set up your own appointment! 

When it comes to simple everyday activities, whether walking or going up and down the stairs, having good balance is important. Balancing is a skill, and like any other skill, the more you practice the better you get. You can practice building strength and stability by working with our vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NYd at Island Sports Physical Therapy. 

Who is at Risk of Balance Problems?

Suppose you feel unsteady while standing or walking. In that case, you may have a balance problem. If you are on medication, have an infection, are experiencing an inner ear problem, or are recovering from a head injury, you are at risk of balance problems. You may also be at risk if you are 65 years or older and have arthritis or low or high blood pressure. Having an ear infection or travel

ing on a boat may cause balance issues but usually goes away in time with treatment such as medications. Some balance problems though become long-term, chronic conditions. In these cases, it is good to start working with a physical therapist to improve your balance and get to the root of the problem. 

How Can Physical Therapy Help

By performing physical therapy exercises to improve your balance, you can maintain your independence when it comes to walking, standing from a chair, or any other daily activities without risking a fall and getting injured. Our therapists at vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY are experts when it comes to movement. They will be able to help you improve your strength and mobility. Your doctor might recommend you start vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY if: 

• You are having difficulty moving independently and safely
• You have gotten hurt from falling or have a history of falling
• You have had a stroke causing you to have difficulty balancing 
• You are an athlete recovering from a sports injury 
• You have recently had surgery 
• You have vertigo 

When you first attend vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY, a therapist will likely assess your balance to see which movement, in particular, poses the greatest challenge. Then, they will help you create a routine to enhance your balance, safety, and independence. 

Balance Exercises at Vertigo Physical Therapy near Stony Brook NY

It is important to do these exercises with the help of a physical therapist. Some of these exercises may be too difficult to perform on your own. Having a physical therapist will ensure that you are performing balancing exercises safely and properly. Below are four simple balancing exercises a physical therapist can help you with to help improve your balance

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1. Single Leg Stance: A simple leg lift enhances balance by engaging your legs and abdomen muscles. It is important to have this skill because it helps 
2. with any movements that involve shifting weight from one leg to another, such as turning a corner or stopping yourself from falling. 
3. Tandem Walking: This exercise tests your balance and your body’s movement pattern while you are walking. By performing this exercise, you are strengthening your connection between your visual and proprioceptive systems. The ultimate goal in this exercise is to be able to walk without any spaces between each foot. 
4. Walking with Different Head Motions: This exercise strengthens your connection with all three balance systems. It trains these systems to react quickly when your focus abruptly changes. This is a very beneficial exercise for feeling stable and confident in a crowded environment or busy workplace. 
5. Walking with a Different Visual Field: This exercise strengthens your connection between the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. Practicing this will help you in cases where your surroundings are disorienting. 

Contact Us:Vertigo Physical Therapy near Stony Brook NY

At Island Sports Physical Therapy, our staff is committed to helping build strength and mobility by focusing on your specific goals and needs. Our vertigo physical therapy near Stony Brook NY ensures that you are receiving treatment in a safe environment. If you want to improve your balance to prevent falls that can be life-threatening, schedule an appointment with us today!