Physiotherapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation
Generally speaking, there are numerous
causes of
dizziness/vertigo and physiotherapy is effective in treating dizziness due to the vestibular
problems. There are mainly three clinical conditions with dizziness which are related the vestibular
system:
The first one is the benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Patients have sudden onset of
severe vertigo lasting for about 10 seconds on the change of posture, especially sitting to lying.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, manual therapy (Epley manoeuvre) is very effective in treating
BPPV. Within 15-minute manoeuvre, the patient will be symptom free.
The second condition is called vestibular neuritis or dysfunction. The symptoms of dizziness, nausea
or tinnitus occur after flu or infection of inner ear. The more frequent change of posture, the more
dizziness the patient feels. Patients with vestibular neuritis are usually scared of change of
positions, resulting in limited daily activities. This will result in poor recovery. There is strong
research evidence that vestibular exercises do have great efficacy in treating patients with
vestibular neuritis. With 3 weeks of exercises, patients will feel a marked progress in the relief
of dizziness. The key of success is daily exercises with intentionally tolerable symptom.
The third condition is Meniere’s disease which takes longer time for vestibular exercises to be
effective.
