Vertigo : Causes, symptoms, treatment and exercises!

Vertigo is a common sensation of spinning dizziness. A person with vertigo may feel like his body is spinning or the world around him is spinning. Though vertigo may occur at any age, people of age 65 or more are highly susceptible. Women experience vertigo more than men. It can be short term or long term. Mostly vertigo is the result of issues of inner ear, brain or sensory nerve pathway.

Types Of Vertigo

1. Peripheral Vertigo

Peripheral vertigo is the most common type of vertigo. Almost 80% cases of vertigo are of peripheral vertigo. Peripheral vertigo usually results from problems in the inner ear.

Tiny organs in the inner ear respond to gravity and the person’s position by sending messages via nerve signals to the brain. This process enables people to keep their balance when they stand up.

2. Central Vertigo

Less common type of vertigo. It is related to the central nervous system. It is usually the result of problem in part of brain stem or cerebellum.

What are causes Of Vertigo?

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

• Meunière’s Disease

• Labrinthitis

• Vestibular Neuritis

• Cholesteatoma

• Migraine Headaches

• Stroke

• Diabetes

• Head injuries

• Prolonged bed rest

• Ear surgery

• Low blood Pressure

• Hyperventilation

• Multiple Sclerosis

• Acoustic Neuroma

• Brain Disease

What are symptoms of vertigo?

• Spinning Dizziness

• Imbalance

• Tinnitus

• Headaches

• Motion Sickness

• Feeling of fullness in ear

• Nystagmus (uncontrollable side by side movement of eyes)

What are the diagnostic tests for vertigo ?

• Fukuda-Unterberger’s Test

• Romberg’s test

• Head Impulse Test

• CT scans

• MRI

What are the treatments available for vertigo ?

• Medication.

Treating the underlying cause of your vertigo can help ease symptoms. For example, if vertigo is a byproduct of an infection, your healthcare provider can prescribe antibiotics. Steroids can help reduce inflammation. There are also medications to relieve other vertigo symptoms, such as nausea or motion sickness.

• Vestibular Rehabilitation

If vertigo is the result of an inner ear problem, this type of physical therapy may help reduce your symptoms. Vestibular rehabilitation helps strengthen your other senses so they can compensate for vertigo episodes.

• Canalith Repositioning Procedure

If you have BPPV, canalith repositioning manoeuvres help move calcium deposits into an inner ear chamber where they will be absorbed by your body.

• Surgery

When vertigo is due to a serious underlying issue, such as a brain tumour or neck injury, surgery may be necessary

Preventive measures:

• Taking extra time to stand up, turn your head or perform other triggering movements.

• Sleeping with your head elevated on two pillows.

• Sitting down as soon as you feel dizzy.

• Squatting instead of bending over when picking something up.

Exercises to improve balance in Vertigo

Type I exercises

Instruction : During all exercises, stand with a chair in front of you and a wall behind you. If you begin to fall, you may use them for support.

1. Marching in place exercise

• Stand with your feet slightly apart (as you normally start) and arms at your side.

• March in Place. Lifting your knees high towards the ceiling

• Do this 20 times. Try to progress to doing this 30 times and them with your eyes closed.

2. Standing sway exercises.

Stand with your feet shoulder- width apart and arms at your side.

A. Forward-to-back exercise :

• Gently sway (lean) forward and then backward so that your weight shifts to your toes and then to your heels. Do not lift your toes or heels. Be sure that your shoulders and hips move together. Do not bend at your hips.

• Slowly increase how far you can sway forward and backward without taking a step.

B. Left-to-right exercise :

• Gently sway to the left and right so that your weight shifts from your left foot to your right foot. Do not lift your toes or heels. Be sure that your shoulders and hips move together. Do not bend at your hips.

• Slowly increase how far you can sway left and right without taking a step.

C. Romberg Exercise

• Put your feet together and your arms to your side.

• Hold this position to 30 seconds. Try to progress to doing it with your eye closed.

Type II exercise.

Instruction: for following exercises hold the card 12-18inches I front of your eyes, focus on the letters on the card.

1. Gaze Stabilization

Keeping the card still and your eyes focused on the letters on the card, slowly move your head back and forth (horizontally), left and right.

2. Times one viewing target in phase with head

• Slowly move the car left and right horizontally, keeping your eyes focused on the letters on the target, and moving your entire upper body to go a full 180 degrees.

• Change hands, if necessary, to keep the card in view at all times.

• Move the entire upper body ( not just your head) to maintain a focus on the letters of the card.

3. Times two viewing target in phase with head

• Slowly move the card lest and right (horizontally) , keeping your eyes focused on the letters on the target.

• Move your head in the opposite direction of the card movement

• When the card is moved to the left, move your head to the right.

• When the card is moved to the right, move your head to the left.

4. Smooth pursuit/tracking

• Slowly move the card back and forth (horizontally), left and right in front of your tyres.

• Change hands if necessary, to keep the cars in view at all times.

• Keep your head still and focus on the letter of the card, moving only your eyes.

5. Saccade Eye Movement

• Hold two cards in two hands

• Keeping the cards and your head still, moving only your eyes, jump your eyes back and forth between the two cards.

• Take about one second per card and find a specific letter on which to focus on each card.

• Spell Out the words or sentences to vary the exercise.

These exercises will help you improve your balance but please consult your doctor before taking up these exercises.