Vertigo is a symptom that is found with many conditions of the vestibular system, a system in the body that allows for balance, equilibrium, and spatial orientation.

It is characterized primarily by dizziness, a sensation that your surroundings are spinning, or other feelings of motion even when one is stationary. Vertigo is also often associated with or present alongside other symptoms such as the following:

• Instability, loss of balance
• Nausea and vomiting
• Involuntary eye movements
• Visual disturbances (blurred vision)
• Headaches
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Fullness in the ears
• Hearing loss
• Sweating
• Motion sensitivity
• Anxiety

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Vertigo usually indicates a problem with the inner ear. The inner ear contains the vestibular system which, as mentioned earlier, helps maintain balance and stability for the entire body. 

Your inner ear is made up of looping canals that contain sensory hair cells. In these cells live tiny particles called otoconia, which are calcium carbonate crystals that “measure” the position your body is in and help maintain stability.

These tiny particles can be a cause for some cases of vertigo, but are not always the cause. Other times, different parts of the inner ear can become inflamed or irritated, which can cause problems with balance.

Another important feature of the inner ear is the vestibular nerve, which helps carry signals over to the brain about your body’s position. Balance can become much more difficult when this nerve isn’t in working order.

Although vertigo is common, it can still be dangerous if not addressed, and in rare cases, can be indicative of more serious conditions. There are a few different types of vertigo:

• Peripheral vertigo: A more common type of vertigo that involves problems with the inner ear or the vestibular nerve.

• Central vertigo: A less common but more serious type of vertigo that can be caused by brain injuries, stroke, or infection. More severe symptoms often accompany it.

• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This form of vertigo occurs when the otoconia in your inner ear are displaced, and cause confusion or sensitivity with the body’s position and balance.

Vertigo can also be caused by a variety of conditions, including but not limited to:

• Labyrinthitis: Inflammation of a portion of the inner ear known as the labyrinth, which is the innermost part of the ear that contains the cochlea and vestibular system.

• Vestibular neuritis: Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, a nerve that transmits information about position and motion to the brain.

• Ménière’s disease: A chronic disorder of the inner ear that does not have an exact known cause, but is suspected to be related to the fluid imbalances in the inner ear.

• Vestibular Migraines: Migraines that have accompanying symptoms of vertigo, imbalance, and nausea.

• Perilymphatic Fistula: This condition refers to problems with the membranes that separate the middle and inner ear. When these membranes become torn or ruptured, it can cause fluid imbalances in the inner ear.

• Neurological Disorders: Disorders such as stroke or multiple sclerosis can affect the vestibular system and cause vertigo.

Physical therapy can be a very effective form of treatment or management of vertigo, although the treatment approach may vary slightly by your type of vertigo and the frequency in which you experience it.

One important treatment method our physical therapists at Hive utilize for any type of vertigo is preventative health. While you can’t always prevent vertigo from happening, you can take measures to be more prepared for when it occurs—which can help prevent other injuries from vertigo-associated falls.

To do this, your physical therapist may use a variety of vestibular rehabilitation techniques. Vestibular rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy that is especially catered to disorders of the vestibular system.

One technique of vestibular rehabilitation works on improving the overall strength, balance, and flexibility of your body (especially your lower body) to help improve your body’s ability to stabilize or prevent falls. Physical therapists are experts in optimizing your physical form, so they will be able to create a specialized exercise plan suited to your needs.

Similarly, your physical therapist will help you improve your posture and ergonomics. This is especially helpful if you can identify triggers or movements that frequently cause your vertigo.

With these triggers identified, your physical therapist can help you alter and optimize those movements and posture to help lessen the likelihood of vertigo. Even without specific triggers, they can help you improve your body’s overall balance and stability by teaching safer postures.

If you are someone who experiences BPPV (the type of vertigo where your canaliths are shifted from their usual location), your physical therapist may use canalith repositioning procedures. This can be done in-office by the physical therapist for those with less mobility, or this procedure may be taught to you so that you can safely perform it at home if necessary.

Because our physical therapists at Hive Therapy and Wellness take a holistic approach and truly care about your wellbeing even outside of the office, they may help suggest other measures to better support your needs involving vertigo.

If you experience vertigo very often or have more severe symptoms, they may suggest safety-enhancing environmental changes to your home or workplace. This can involve removing potential hazards or supplying more stabilizing supports such as grab-bars, handrails, or non-slip mats.

For those who experience other side effects of vertigo, such as body aches or headaches, our physical therapists can use a variety of treatments to address your pain—such as tissue scraping, manual therapy, joint manipulation, and more. In addition to those techniques, our physical therapists at Hive may use any of the following to provide you with a comprehensive care experience:

• Dry Needling
• Cupping
• Manual Therapy 
• Spinal Manipulation 
• Electrical Muscle Stimulation
• Tissue Scraping 
• Exercise Prescription
• Behavioral Modifications
• Therapeutic Modalities
• Neuromuscular Re-education
• Biofeedback (part of neuromuscular)
• Therapeutic Activity