Dizziness and loss of balance is the #3 reason individuals over the age of 65 seek medical attention.
It becomes the #1 reason over the age of 70.
A deficit in any one of the three main systems that maintain balance — (visual input, vestibular input (inner ear) and postural control) — can cause dizziness and/or imbalance, which increases the risk for falls and serious injury.
PT and SR can help!
Many times, medical or surgical intervention will not help these patients, but very often physical therapy can be helpful in reducing or eliminating dizziness and/or imbalance.
In fact, half the people over 65 with dizziness have a condition called BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), which many times can be relieved quickly in as few as one or two PT visits with certain positional maneuvers and exercises.
At Physical Therapy and Sports Rehab, a physical therapist can assess where the deficits are and plan a treatment plan accordingly.
Treatments given to address these problems may include: certain positional movements, gaze stabilization, habituation, vestibular adaptation, and specific strengthening and balance exercises to alleviate these feelings of dizziness and imbalance.
Full Vertigo/Vestibular therapies take place at our Norwood office.
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Vertigo/Vestibular Treatment is offered only at the Norwood office specializing in specific positional maneuvers for BPPV. Advanced training in this treatment allows therapists to evaluate and treat vertigo, imbalance, gait disorders and vestibular loss through certain positional movements, gaze stabilization, habituation, vestibular adaptation and specific strengthening and balance exercises.
Both our Norwood and Norfolk offices offer traditional balance therapy.
If you or someone you know suffer from falls, we can help. Check out this video by Mary Coe, director of physical therapy, recorded for Falls Prevention Awareness Day. These helpful tips can prevent you from joining the many who are injured every year by falls.
