Our body’s sense of balance and spatial orientation is something we take for granted. But when illness or injury affects the body’s balancing system, it can lead to falls, reduced mobility, blurred vision, headaches, nausea and other physical discomforts.
The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, is often to blame. An important contributor to the body’s balancing; this system has three jobs to do:
- Detect the position of the head in space and on the body
- Ensure postural control
- Contribute to coordination of head and eye movement
In Motion’s physical therapists have developed a program to help improve the symptoms while increasing mobility and balance. This rehabilitation helps to retrain the body when stroke, brain trauma, inner ear surgery or chronic disease like MS or Parkinson’s affects the vestibular system.
Patients with vertigo, motion intolerance and dizziness associated with neck pain may benefit from In Motion’s Vestibular Rehabilitation program.
Treatment may include computerized sensory integration testing and training using the SMART Balance Master®, available at Harbour View, DePaul, and Mary Immaculate physical therapy locations.
Other therapeutic strategies may include:
- Adaptation exercises
- Balance retraining and activities
- Compensatory strategies
- Gait training and stabilization
- Conditioning exercises
- Modalities to treat cervical spine
- Cervical – thoracic stabilization exercises Movement desensitization Gaze Stabilization Exercises
In Motion staff teach patients how to compensate for loss of sense of balance, provide a home exercise program and give suggestions for ways to make home and other spaces safer, fall-free zones.