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Dizzines ranks second only to pain in patient complaints at physician visits. Here's a little secret about me.... I LOVE patients that are dizzy!!! Well, most patients that are dizzy. There are different types of dizziness and many ways that the symptom is described. Lightheadedness, haziness, foggy, cloudy, blurry, vertigo, spining and on and on. I once had a patient who described it as "squirrelly." When I say I LOVE patients that are dizzy, it is because physical therapy can have a profound impact on this debilitating feeling that can really be a scare and limit the activity level of those suffering. We will discuss one particular type of dizziness below, but, most types of dizziness respond VERY WELL to PT. The best kind of dizziness for me is the worst kind of dizziness for the patient...at least in terms of the severity of the sensation. True vertigo is caused by nystagmus , which is essentially repeated contraction of eye muscles that shouldn't be working together at the same time. My dizziness is caused by my eye muscles? In the type of dizziness that I will speak about here, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV , the eye muscles are heavily involved. See below...this is nystagmus. There are eye muscles that move the eye side to side and eye muscles that move the eye up and down and eye muscles that have a rotary effect ...they turn the eye clockwise or counter-clockwise. These eye muscles are connected to the inner ear. WHY?? One of the jobs of the inner ear is to make sure your eyes can stay focused while your head moves. Try this..stare at your TV, or a book, or computer, and move your head side to side and up and down. You are still able to maintain your gaze fixed while your head is moving...that's because the inner ear is telling your eye muscles how to react to the movement of your head so that the eye essentially can stay in place relative to the head. Picture a hula-hoop filled with fluid AND rocks . If you turn the hula hoop, the fluid inside naturally moves. The rocks move as well...BUT!!... not at the same speed or direction necessarily because they are heavier than the water. The inner ear is similar. When not stricken with BPPV, when you move your head, fluid moves in the Semicircular Canals and sensory nerves are stimulated inside the canal...this nerve stimulation is what manages the contraction or relaxation of the eye muscles. In another section of the inner ear, there are "rocks" or otoconia , which serve a physiological purpose. For one reason or another, illness, bump on head, some of those "rocks" get dislodged and move into the Semicircular Canal (Hula Hoop) . Now, when you move your head a certain way, the eye muscles get the stimulation that they should be getting from the fluid movement, but, they ALSO get a different stimulation from the "rocks" or "crystals" and pairs of eye muscles work together to move the eye in a way it wasn't designed to move. The result is NYSTAGMUS . That eye movement, as seen above, is what causes the nauseating feeling that the world is spinning around you. BPPV lasts less than a minute and is usually felt while getting up and down from bed, rolling in bed, bending over, or looking up to the ceiling . Lightheadedness and nausea may remain a bit longer than the vertigo. How scary is that feeling? How often is someone going to want to replicate the movement that brought it on? It's a terrible feeling, especially if the reason is unknown. I'm not saying that all vertigo is BPPV..certainly not, but, certain physical therapists have been fortunate enough to learn how to determine that. Here is the part I LOVE! BPPV can be cured in a high majority of cases in just about TEN MINUTES!!!! A therapist will take a complete history, perform a few tests to confirm the diagnosis, and implement a treatment... the results are pretty amazing! That is why I LOVE patients who are dizzy...it's very exciting to ease someones worries in such a short span of time. Let's get you off of that ride so you can get back to life!!! Call for a FREE CONSULTATION 1-888-929-7677

On the bright side, falling is NOT a NATURAL part of aging and YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR BALANCE AT ANY AGE

physical and medical conditions that can increase the risk of falling include muscle weakness, poor balance Poor balance and coordination: Balance and coordination can be impaired by a variety of factors, including Vestibular conditions, which are disorders of the inner ear and balance system, can increase the risk regain) their balance so that they can live a happy life without worry! www.achievarehab.com #balancetherapy #physicaltherapy #vertigo #dizzinesstherapy #physicalrehabilitation

Why Balance Is Crucial Let’s get started with today’s discussion on balance and falls. For most of us, balance declines as we get older. Addressing balance issues early is critical. C-auses of Balance Problems What causes balance problems? This is the most seen reason for balance problems.

Most people don’t think much about their balance until it starts to slip. . 🔍 Why Do We Lose Our Balance? It is a common myth that age alone causes poor balance. Feeling the need to grab furniture or walls for support. 💡 The "Internal Dance" of Balance Good balance Tandem Walk:  Walk heel-to-toe like you are on a balance beam.

Get your vision checked because vision is absolutely essential for your balance. If you're fortunate enough to have good balance, throw rugs aren't a big deal. The better shape your body is in, the better your balance is going to react. tips to help you have better balance. In all, if you do have balance issues, you need physical therapy.

Arthritis is a prevalent condition among older adults, often leading to balance issues that increase Understanding how arthritis contributes to these balance problems is essential for developing effective Impact of Arthritis on Balance Joint Stiffness and Pain:  Arthritis causes inflammation in the joints This discomfort can alter gait and posture, making it challenging to maintain balance. , improve joint mobility, and enhance balance.

A loss of balance is not a natural part of aging, but delaying action can have devastating consequences The High Cost of Waiting: Why You Can't Delay Balance Work When you feel unsteady or fear falling, it Balance Training:  We guide you through challenges like standing on one foot or heel-to-toe walking while These exercises help your brain rewire itself to balance better . Ready to start your journey toward better balance and confidence?

inflammation in the inner ear, often following a viral illness, and produce persistent dizziness and balance hypofunction, a structured program of gaze stabilization exercises, habituation training, and progressive balance physical therapy is a specialized area of PT that addresses disorders of the inner ear and the brain's balance It is one of the most underdiagnosed causes of balance problems in older adults. brain to maintain clear vision during head movement, along with habituation exercises and progressive balance

Regular physical activity helps maintain mobility, balance, and overall well-being, counteracting many Enhanced Balance and Coordination:  Balance exercises can reduce the risk of falls by improving stability Balance and Coordination Exercises:  Practices like tai chi or yoga improve balance and coordination, Engage in balance exercises at least 2-3 times per week.

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological condition that affects movement, balance, and coordination Resistance training, balance exercises, gait training, and aerobic activity have each been shown to improve Postural instability creates difficulty recovering from unexpected balance disturbances. A typical program includes gait training focused on stride length and freezing reduction, balance and As the patient builds strength, balance, and confidence, session frequency may be adjusted to one to

Structured training that focuses on strength, balance, and coordination can dramatically reduce fall With Achieva Plus+ , we use real-life balance drills like dual-task walking, head-turn activities, and The last 15 years of helping older adults balance better has left us with an unbelievable, seemingly bottomless toolbox of ways to help you improve your balance. Realizing that you can improve your balance and prevent some of the nasty declines associated falsely