Vestibular Physiotherapy Ottawa

What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation is the assessment and treatment of the causes of dizziness, vertigo and balance issues. Vestibular rehabilitation physiotherapists use a variety of tests and manoeuvres to identify the cause of your dizziness, vertigo or balance issues, and prescribe a program of exercises and treatment techniques to help to restore your sense of equilibrium. 

What is the vestibular system?

Our vestibular system is part of the inner ear, a series of structures that are designed to tell our brain about the position of our head and the speed of our movements. 

Our awareness of where we are at in space comes from various sources – including our vestibular system, our vision and hearing, and the sensors in our joints. When the information coming from these sources do not match up, we can feel dizziness, vertigo or balance issues. 

What do our Vestibular Rehabilitation Physiotherapists treat? 

Depending on the cause of your dizziness or balance issues, vestibular rehabilitation can treat or help to manage the symptoms of a vestibular loss of function.

Some conditions causing dizziness, vertigo and balance loss are temporary, while others are permanent or progressive. Your physiotherapist will help you to set reasonable expectations and goals for your treatment, and educate you on your expected recovery or management process.

Conditions Treated by our Vestibular Physiotherapists: 

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) 
Cervicogenic dizziness
Age-related dizziness and balance issues 
Vestibular migraine 
Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS)
Symptoms related to balance and dizziness - vertigo, general dizziness, general balance issues and frequent falls, nausea, neck tension, headaches, vision issues

Persistent Postural Perceptual Dizziness (3PD) 
Concussion-related dizziness and vertigo
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis
Unilateral vestibular hypofunction 
Meniere’s Disease

How do Vestibular Rehabilitation Physiotherapists treat dizziness? 

Vestibular rehabilitation treatment depends on the reason for your dizziness. Our vestibular physiotherapist will complete a comprehensive assessment and will provide you with care specific to your concerns. This treatment may include: 

Repositioning Manoeuvres 

Repositioning manoeuvres are effective in the treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. If your physiotherapist feels that BPPV is causing your dizziness, they will move you through a series of positions designed to move otolith crystals from one area of the vestibular system to another.

Cervical (Neck) Therapy 

If your dizziness is coming from the structures of your neck, your physiotherapist will use manual therapy, soft tissue treatment techniques and strengthening exercises to reduce neck stiffness, tension and pain. By improving the information your neck tells you about where you are in space, we can improve your overall sense of balance.

Vision Therapy

Your physiotherapist will assess your dynamic vision – your ability of your eyes to work together to effectively see and track objects during movement. You may be provided exercises to teach your eyes and your head to work as a team to keep objects or the environment in focus. By improving the information your vision tells you about where you are in space, we can improve your overall sense of balance.

Movement Habituation Exercises 

When your vestibular system has been injured, or the information that your brain has been receiving about your balance has been “off” for a period of time, we may need to “recalibrate” your body’s response to movement. Your physiotherapist may assess which movements make you feel dizzy, and will prescribe an exercise program to gradually re-train your body to feel confident in moving these directions.

Balance Training

Your physiotherapist will prescribe balance exercises to help you return safely to your daily activities. Your exercise program will depend on the cause of your dizziness, and will be designed to help reduce the risk of falls and injuries. These exercises will gradually become more challenging – teaching your body to feel confident and stable in various positions, on various surfaces and in various environments.

Multi-Sensory Integration 

Exercises for your vestibular system, your vision and your neck are important to re-establishing your sense of equilibrium. However, these systems do not work alone – we are always moving through our world while using our senses. Teaching your brain to do multiple things at once is important to your recovery. We use multi-tasking exercise and treatment strategies to ensure that you feel stable in any environment – from a quiet, blank room, to a busy grocery store or on a moving boat.

Concussion Rehabilitation 

If your dizziness is the result of a concussion, your trained Complete Concussion Management and vestibular physiotherapist will determine the cause of your dizziness, then provide treatment and exercises for your specific needs.

What training does your Vestibular Rehabilitation physiotherapist have? 

Our vestibular rehabilitation physiotherapists have been trained through the Dizziness and Balance Rehabilitation Clinic, as well as through the Complete Concussion Management program. 

Learn more about the Dizziness and Balance Rehabilitation Clinic at https://vestibular-rehab.com/

Learn more about the Complete Concussion Management program at https://completeconcussions.com/ 

Interested in working with our vestibular physiotherapists?

Please note that our clinic is on the second floor of Amped Sports Lab and Ice Complex. We have a transitional space on the main floor for people who are recovering from an injury that means they cannot do stairs temporarily. The transitional space is not wheelchair accessible and does not have the exercise space needed to allow for the full Amped Physiotherapy treatment approach. If you require a fully-accessible treatment space, we would be happy to direct you to accessible clinics in the area. 

FAQs

What Does Vestibular Therapy In Amped Physiotherapy Ottawa Mean?

Amped Physiotherapy can help you if you’re struggling with steadying yourself while standing or walking. Our specialized services not only deal with a broad range of vestibular issues and other common conditions affecting your balance, but we also provide you with the best possible exercise regime and follow-up treatment, so you can get back to enjoying your quality of life.

What Are Balance Disorders?

Balance disorders refer to a wide range of conditions that can result in balance or stability issues, but they are all connected by the effect they have on the vestibular system, also known as the inner ear. Inner ear problems may be caused by a physical ailment, or by fluid collecting in the ear canal.

Who Are Good Candidates For Vestibular Rehabilitation?

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is used to help people recover from dizziness or vertigo caused by conditions such as concussion, stroke, migraines, and Meniere’s disease. VRT includes exercise programs designed to improve balance and coordination while reducing symptoms like nausea, vomiting, lightheadedness, and fatigue. Patients typically receive one hour of treatment per day over several weeks.

What Are The Benefits Of Vestibular Rehab?

At Amped Physiotherapy Clinic, we offer some of the most effective vestibular rehab services in Ottawa, aimed at retraining your vestibular system to regulate feelings of stability and balance. We provide a comprehensive assessment of your condition at your initial examination to make sure we’re addressing your unique symptoms. Among the many benefits that come from vestibular rehabilitation are improving your ability to:

• Understand your limits – it’s important to know where your limits are and to appreciate what is safe and what is unsafe. This allows you to recognize potential hazards and take appropriate action.

• Set your limits – knowing your limits helps you avoid potentially hazardous situations. You can also make adjustments to your lifestyle to accommodate your symptoms. For example, you might consider taking public transportation rather than driving whenever possible.

• Overcome habituation – by experiencing your symptoms and gaining improved control over them, you’ll eventually begin to overcome feelings of motion sickness and daily life challenges.

• Improve brain plasticity – by making changes to central connections within your brain, you can help compensate for peripheral disturbances. If you’re suffering from vertigo, for instance, you can learn techniques to reduce the intensity of your symptoms.

What Causes Vertigo?

In some cases, it is due to a structural problem such as a tumor pressing against the brainstem or cerebellum. At other times it could be caused by an infection, trauma, or even stress. Sometimes there are no clear reasons why someone experiences vertigo.

How Do I Know If My Vertigo Is Related To Something Else?

Vertigo is often associated with another health issue. For example, people with migraines often experience vertigo. If you feel like your vertigo is worse during certain activities, or you notice changes in your balance while walking, standing up, sitting down, or moving your head, then it might be worth discussing with your doctor whether it’s related to anything else.

Amped Physiotherapy

2600 Leitrim Rd 2nd Floor, Ottawa, ON K1T 3V3, Canada