At some point throughout our childhood, many of us have experienced dizziness after some sort of “spinning” event. Thankfully, those sensations probably wore off after 15-20 seconds. Unfortunately for many people around the world, abnormal dizziness or vertigo can occur for a number of reasons, and linger for days, weeks, or even longer. In fact, dizziness is the #1 complaint of people over the age of 70 years old. This is a tell-tale sign that something is wrong with the vestibular system – our gyroscope that helps us maintain an upright position in a world where our bodies are dynamic and moving. There are two types of vestibular dysfunction: mechanical or sensory.
The mechanical issue is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). There are crystals that sit within canals that can be dislodged, causing our system to sense we are spinning when we really aren’t. Typically, people feel like the world is violently spinning without them when they sit up or turn in bed. Thankfully, we have maneuvers that help those crystals move back to their rightful home, often within 1-2 visits!
The second dysfunction is sensory. There are two nerves that send balance signals to the brain – one in each ear. These can become damaged from age, medications, or disease. If one nerve isn’t sending the same signals as the other, your brain experiences a spinning sensation. Think paddling a canoe with only one oar. Physical therapists have a variety of exercises and tricks with vestibular rehabilitation therapy that can help correct that dysfunction.
Are you ready to take the next step? Call any of our Wisconsin or North Dakota locations to schedule an appointment.