Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based program that works to improve balance and reduce problems with dizziness.
Dizziness and imbalance are one of the most common reasons that cause individuals to go to health institutions. With age, dizziness and impaired balance increase. It was found that up to 40% of the adult population applied to the doctor at least once with the complaints of vertigo and balance disorder.
Symptoms and symptoms arising from the vestibular system include dizziness, dizziness, feeling like floating, swaying, shaking, falling, falling, unable to leave the house for fear of falling, pulling left-right while walking on the road, not being able to walk in the dark, being disturbed by the crowd. In the crowd, people seem to be coming on top of them, hitting left and right, and as a result, bruises on the legs, fear of heights, inability to look away, loud noises, dizziness, inability to cross the road, dizziness of passing buses, forgetfulness, tired quickly, desire not to go to work, students failure in math class, depression because of not solving problems, and so on.
Blunt traumas are thought to be the cause of vertigo and balance disorders in adults.
Most of the causes of dizziness and imbalance can be diagnosed using modern, advanced and high technologies when necessary, and appropriate treatment can be provided with “Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy” without using such high technologies.
The brain balances, controls and provides spatial orientation. Spatial orientation is the usual balanced upright image of a person in the environment. The brain uses the ear, eye, touch and deep sensory systems while performing its task of controlling and establishing dynamic balance (balance). The brain uses reflexes, most of which originate from the inner ear, to perform these processes tirelessly. If these reflexes are impaired, there are deficiencies and slowdowns in the work of the brain with the deterioration of balance and are expressed as the above complaints.
The purpose of vestibular rehabilitation is to resolve acute and reversible deficits, to compensate for non-recyclable deficits, and to increase mobility of chronic ones. The indications for vestibular rehabilitation include BPPV, unilateral-bilateral vestibular loss, vestibular migraine, motion sickness, and age-related imbalance disorders.
Vestibular Rehabilitation methods can be divided into two groups:
1- Specific Methods:
- Habituation (Practice): Systematically aims to regress symptoms by provoking them.
- Adaptation: It aims to induce / change the neuronal response of the vestibular system to a specific error signal.
- Substitution: It is based on the replacement of lost or affected vestibular functions and alternative strategies.
-Spatial orientation
- Exercises targeting the re-distribution and repositioning of otoliths
2- Non-Specific Methods:
Endurance exercises
- Strengthening specific muscle groups related to balance and walking
Vestibular Rehabilitation period is usually 4-8 weeks, it is important to start treatment as early as possible.
As a result of Vestibular Rehabilitation Treatment; The patient's balance improves, falls are prevented, vision improves during head movements, spatial orientation is improved, and the patient is re-socialized.
