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Dizziness and imbalance are more common than is often thought.
Dizziness may be caused by disruptions in the vestibular component of the nervous system. The vestibular system uses information from the eyes, inner ear and body to tell the brain how the body is moving or how the body is positioned in space.
Sometimes, this information is incomplete or distorted, causing dizziness, instability or a full loss of balance.
The purpose of vestibular therapy and balance training is to restore good communication between these sources of information and the brain. Therapy generally involves daily home exercises or maneuvers in the clinic, and, sometimes, treatment for neck pain which may be interfering with nerve signals in the spinal cord.
Length of treatment for dizziness and imbalance depends on the diagnosis. For example, dizziness due to an inner ear problem may take only 1 or 2 sessions, whereas imbalance related to aging may require 8-16 sessions spread over 2-3 months. Ask your therapist for details on the estimated duration of your treatment.
Of course, the more diligent you are in your prescribed home exercises, the quicker you will return to more normal function!
Our physical therapists are specially trained in diagnoses and treatment of vestibular and balance disorders.
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