At least 69 million people in the United States have suffered from vertigo at some point, and about 8 million Americans suffer from chronic balance issues regularly, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. Despite how common vertigo is, many sufferers are unaware that physical therapy is one of the best and most effective ways to manage and treat vertigo.

The technique and course of treatment depends a lot on the cause of the problem, said Josh Koy, a physical therapist at Aultman Orrville Hospital.

“Specifically, vertigo is a type of dizziness often related to a patient’s sense of balance. Often with vertigo, the person describes it as more of a spinning sensation or that objects are moving when they may not be.”

Vertigo that is attributed to an inner ear problem is known as a vestibular disorder. Your vestibular system helps keep objects in visual focus as you move. For example, when your head moves, signals are transmitted to the inner ear. The inner ear transmits movement information to the vestibular nerve, which carries the information to the areas of the brain that control balance, posture and motor coordination.

Vestibular rehabilitation, a specific area of therapy, can include treatment for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), one of the most common causes of vertigo. BPPV is generally related to positional dizziness that can cause brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness. It is attributed to a mechanical change in the inner ear that causes loose crystals.  When the crystals become dislodged, it can result in the disruption of ear fluid. That disruption in ear fluid creates a false sense of movement.

Nicholas Napolitan, an AOH physical therapist, has a special interest and certification in treating vestibular problems.

“Based on the response to testing, we verify positional vertigo and treat it through a variety of positioning techniques,” said Napolitan. “If the treatment corrects the problem, the patient may have quick relief and not require much additional follow up. Sometimes, continued follow up is required.”

In order to be treated for vertigo, AOH physical therapy will require you to have a physician referral for evaluation and treatment. If you think you may have vertigo, talk with your doctor and determine if physical therapy treatment and evaluation would be appropriate.

October is National Physical Therapy Month. Aultman Orrville Hospital is looking to raise awareness of the role physical therapy can play in a patient’s recovery. This article is the second of a two-part series and looks at the impact of physical therapy in the treatment of vertigo.