Vertigo is a type of dizziness that can last for a short period (minutes) or can last for hours or even days. People who have vertigo may also have a feeling of sickness (nausea) and be sick (vomit). They may also have a loss of balance. Vertigo is usually caused by problems within the inner ear.
Medicines to treat vertigo help to ease nausea and vomiting and some can also ease dizziness. These medicines are usually only given for a short period (up to 14 days).
What is vertigo and what causes it?
Vertigo is a type of dizziness that can last for a short period (minutes) or can last for hours or even days. People who have vertigo have a false feeling of their surroundings moving or spinning. This is usually accompanied by a feeling of sickness (nausea) and a loss of balance. Vertigo is a symptom and not a condition in itself.
The most common cause of vertigo is a problem with the inner part of the ear – for example, an infection or inflammation. When we move our head, the inner part of the ear tells us where our head is. It does this by sending signals to the brain and this helps us to keep our balance. If there are problems with the inner part of the ear then this causes us to feel sick and dizzy.
Symptoms of Dizziness and Vertigo
- Light-headedness
- Feeling ‘faint’
- Unsteadiness
- Blurry or bouncy vision
- Visual sensitivity
- Difficulty hearing
- Motion sensitivity
Further symptoms that may accompany dizziness include:
- Headaches
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Ringing or other sounds in the ears (tinnitus)
- Staggering gait and loss of coordination (ataxia)
- A sensation of movement (including spinning), either of yourself or the external environment
- Unsteadiness, including finding it difficult to walk in a straight line
- Finding it difficult to see clearly when moving, for example, reading a sign while walking or driving
- Unusual eye movements, such as flitting of the eyes (nystagmus)
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy comprises three main types of exercise: habituation, gaze stabilization, and balance exercises. Habituation exercises are used to treat people who experience dizziness as a result of damage to their vestibular system. The dizziness can be brought on either as a result of the patient moving or by visual stimuli e.g. watching TV or driving. The exercises aim to reduce the frequency and strength of the dizzy spells over time. This is accomplished by inducing light dizzy spells and gradually increasing the level of exposure, which enables the brain to get used to the stimulus, as well as build its tolerance for dizziness up.
Gaze stabilization is used for patients who have difficulty controlling the movements of their eyes, particularly when they are moving their heads. This not only makes it difficult for people to see their surroundings, but can lead to other issues such as headaches. Gaze stabilization exercises can help people regain more control over their eyes. One of the most common exercises for gaze stabilization is having the patient focus their eyes on a stationary object in front of them while moving their head from side to side. This helps to separate the movement of the eyes from the movement of the head.
Vertigo Exercises
Balancing exercises will vary more widely on a case by case basis than habituation or gaze stabilization exercises. The exercises required will depend on the stimulus that triggers the issue. People may have difficulty balancing when walking outside, inside, on elaborately patterned floors, or around obstacles, to name a few examples. Performing tasks while standing or walking can be a major issue for people who have trouble balancing, as can moving through crowds or being surrounded by people.
Right exercises can help people who are struggling with issues such as vertigo, dizziness, focus or balance. Few of the exercises are particularly strenuous, and most will get easier over time, but commitment and determination are necessary to get results. As each case is unique, a physiotherapist will need to examine the patient’s case and lay out the appropriate exercises. Improper exercises could exacerbate the problem, and there could be a risk of injury, particularly for those who have balancing issues.
