Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) in Edmonton
Treating Vestibular Conditions in Edmonton
Have you been feeling dizzy or off-balance? These are often symptoms of vestibular conditions, making it difficult to move, concentrate, and go about your daily life.Â
Issues in the vestibular system can lead to symptoms such as:
- Vertigo
- Imbalance
- Nausea and Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Light-headedness
- Vision Disturbance
The good news is that Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) can treat many vestibular conditions and symptoms. This therapy can help reduce dizziness, restore balance, stabilize vision, relieve headaches, and reduce fall risk. You may also increase your overall body strength.Â
Our highly trained therapists have experience treating various vestibular conditions and symptoms.Â
What is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear. As part of the central nervous system, the vestibular system gives your brain information about your body’s spatial location and helps you maintain balance. However, when interruptions to connections within the vestibular system occur, the nervous system can’t properly process the information.Â
Conditions that Can Be Treated Using Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Some vestibular disorders are caused by conditions specific to the vestibular system. In other cases, dizziness or balance issues may result from another medical condition. Some of the most common reasons patients visit us for VRT include the following:Â
- Vertigo
- Labyrinthitis
- Meniere’s Disease
- Vestibular Neuritis (Neuronitis)
- Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
- Acute and Chronic Concussion
- Migraine
- Stroke
- Falling Risks/Balance or Gait Disorders
- Head Injuries
- Viral Infections
- Inner Ear Conditions
What to Expect from VRT
Assessment
A thorough assessment can help our therapists understand the source of your dizziness or balance issues. The process typically involves a medical history and screening process. We’ll talk about how your condition and symptoms affect your quality of life and your main goals for treatment.Â
Your therapist will also perform some exercises and tests to assess the following:
- Your gait
- Your balance
- Your head movements and eye movements
- Your range of motion in the neck, shoulders, and other parts of the body
This information will help us create a treatment plan specific to you.
Treatment
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy is an exercise-based program designed to help restore the connections between the various parts of your vestibular system. Vestibular rehabilitation exercises may include:
- Stretches and exercises to improve the gait
- Movements to improve hand-eye coordination
- Balance training
- Habituation exercises to help build a tolerance for visually stimulating motion (such as tilting your head)
The treatment plan your therapist creates for you will depend on your situation. We may recommend a lengthier treatment plan of several weeks or months, or you could have significant improvement within a few sessions.Â
Follow Up
Your therapist will likely recommend stretches and exercises you can perform at home to help you improve your balance and reduce dizziness between and after your treatments.Â
Book Your Consultation
If symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance affect your daily life, our therapists are here to help. Book your initial consultation and treatment to learn how vestibular rehabilitation therapy can help you regain balance and enjoy clear vision. Contact us at one of our five clinics throughout Edmonton, including Riverbend, Belvedere, Namao.
At Innovation Physical Therapy, we are here to help you Love Getting Better!