Physical Therapy for Vertigo, Balance, and Fall Prevention
Physical therapy for vertigo, balance, and fall prevention is a type of treatment that aims to reduce dizziness, improve stability, and prevent falls caused by inner ear disorders or other conditions. Physical therapists use exercises, techniques, and education to help people with vertigo cope with their symptoms and improve their quality of life. Some of the benefits of physical therapy for vertigo, balance, and fall prevention are:
- It can help restore normal function of the vestibular system, which is responsible for sensing motion and maintaining balance.
- It can help retrain the brain to process signals from the inner ear and other sensory systems, reducing the mismatch that causes vertigo.
- It can help strengthen the muscles, joints, and nerves that support balance and coordination.
- It can help reduce the risk of injury and disability from falls and other accidents.
There are different types of physical therapy for vertigo, balance, and fall prevention, depending on the cause and severity of the condition. Some of the common types are:
- Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), which is a specialized form of physical therapy for people with peripheral vertigo, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, or labyrinthitis.
- Balance training, which is a general form of physical therapy for people with central vertigo, such as migraine-associated vertigo, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
- Home exercises, which are exercises that people can do at home to supplement their physical therapy sessions at Apex.
About Fall Risk Assessment & Balance Treatment At Apex
Falls are the main cause of injury-related death for people over 65 years old. The U.S. Congress has supported fall prevention research and education since 2003, and passed laws to protect seniors from falls in 2006 and 2007. Medicare also advises all its patients to get a yearly Fall Risk Assessment like the ones given at any of the Apex Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness locations.
A fall risk assessment is the first step for reducing fall risk and reducing the fear of falling. Download our Patient Guide to learn more about Fall Risk Assessments and Balance Treatment, or schedule your assessment today.
