There are many reasons why people suffer from a vestibular disorder. It may occur following a virus, an infection or a heavy knock to the head. In some cases, dizziness can arise when crystals, which form part of the sensory receptors in each ear, are displaced – a condition known as Benign Paroxismal Positional Vertigo or ‘BPPV’. However, it can also occur without any clear cause.
Many people wrongly believe that the way to get better is to avoid things that make them dizzy or otherwise provoke their symptoms. In neurological physiotherapy we do not avoid these things, instead we retrain your brain to cope effectively with the actions or environments which provoke your symptoms, so you can become symptom-free and regain your confidence.
The first thing we do is help you to understand the nature of your symptoms and why they may have come about. Often understanding your condition helps to reduce anxiety and allow you to regain some control over the condition. This also helps you to avoid social isolation and depression.
We will assess your balance systems and help you to work out how to cope with your condition in day-to-day situations, and how to return to work (if applicable). This may include assessing your everyday surroundings like your workplace, the set-up of your desk, and your posture. We will take you through a series of exercises, starting slowly at first and building up over time, to expose you gradually to more complicated environments.
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Find out more about how we work with our patients in their own stories