Vestibular rehabilitation therapy can be an effective treatment for many balance and vision issues brought on by injury, disease or simply aging.
Vestibular compensation is the process that helps the brain regain balance control and minimizes symptoms like dizziness or vertigo when there is an imbalance between, or damage to, the left and right vestibular organs, also called balance organs.
We have found that, with patients who suffer from balance-related issues as well as certain vision disorders, vestibular rehabilitation has made a significantly positive impact in the day-to-day lives of our patients. Let’s explore the benefits of vestibular rehabilitation.
Benefits of Vestibular Therapy
At the Broadview clinic in Ottawa, our research grade and testing capability helps us determine what treatment suits you best.
The goal with vestibular rehabilitation is to train your brain into relying on external reference points to help you regain balance.
Below are the five benefits of vestibular rehabilitation:
- Convenience: You don’t need to leave Ottawa to get world-class treatment
- It involves other healthcare professionals when necessary
- Decreases dizziness and improves stability
- Every patient receives a tailor – made treatment
- It’s drug free
With these benefits in mind, let’s delve into how vestibular therapy works.
Vestibular Therapy: Re-Training the Brain’s Signals
Thanks to vestibular rehabilitation, the brain learns how to cope with disorientating signals coming from the ears.
This process works by relying on alternative messages coming from the eyes, neck, ankles and legs to maintain balance.
Vestibular exercises are part of a physical therapy that addresses balance issues, brain damage, motion disorders and many other conditions.
Regardless of the issue, identifying the cause is key. Whether you suffer from POTS, Meniere’s disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, inner ear crystals, superior canal dehiscence, post-concussion syndrome, or mal de debarquement, you should get examined thoroughly before attempting any of the exercises by yourself.
A qualified therapist will be able to assess and guide you through the treatment in order to get optimal results. What’s more, exercising by yourself could result in further, severe damage to your health. Not all the treatments work for everyone, so be sure to see a reliable therapist first.
In addition to the common symptoms, such as dizziness and vertigo, people whose vestibular balance has been damaged can also experience reduced ability to move, nausea, anxiety and depression.
At Broadview Health Centre, we provide a revolutionary, research-based approach to vestibular rehabilitation.
Am I a Good Candidate for Vestibular Rehabilitation in Ottawa?
Patients diagnosed with a stable vestibular condition have the best chances of a satisfactory recovery.
On the other hand, people who suffer from progressive disorders or fluctuating conditions have a lesser chance of a fully successful outcome. Nevertheless, their odds can be improved by getting the right treatment.
At Broadview, we treat each patient’s individual conditions by assessing a variety of factors and addressing your needs, concerns and goals.
We often see patients that overcome balance and dizziness issues after undergoing vestibular rehabilitation. In general, we find this therapy beneficial for patients with diagnoses of vertigo, traumatic brain injury, stroke, Meniere’s disease or migraines.
Vestibular therapy involves performing exercises that are not difficult to learn, but require commitment. This means you will need discipline and perseverance. In addition, patients who attend vestibular therapy need to be able to tolerate pain, although medication can help them deal with it.
Falling is always the greatest concern during treatment, so our experts will assess your stability in order to implement the vestibular rehabilitation exercises that suit you best. If you want to find out if this type of therapy is right for your symptoms and circumstances, get in touch with us today.