May 2018 Newsletter

May 2018 Newsletter

Happy Spring! To kickoff this new season, we will be doing a special newsletter series covering FAQs of specialized therapy services offered here at DSPT: Pelvic Floor, Concussion/Vestibular, Schroth/Scoliosis, and Acupuncture. Up this month of May is Concussion/Vestibular.

CONCUSSION/VESTIBULAR PT FAQs

  1. How does physical therapy help with Vestibular issues and Post-Concussion syndrome?
    PT for Vestibular and Post-Concussion syndromes involves specialized exercises that maximizes the body's natural ability to maintain balance and reduce problems related to dizziness.
  2. Who benefits from Vestibular and Post-Concussion Therapy?
    Patients typically referred for therapy are those diagnosed with dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, Meniérè's syndrome, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), neck-related dizziness, and migraines. Other candidates are patients who frequently fall or have had a concussion with headaches/dizziness/visual disturbance that persist for weeks or months after the initial injury.
  3. What happens at my initial visit for Vestibular/Concussion PT?
    The Initial Evaluation involves a detailed history/discussion of all your symptoms and medical/injury history related to your Vestibular/Vertigo/Concussion condition. We evaluate you to determine the specific nature of your vestibular dysfunction and create a treatment plan that works best for you. Therapies include balance retraining exercises, gaze stabilization exercises, sensory organization training, aerobic conditioning, and canalith repositioning treatment for BPPV. Time is also spent educating you on the cervical spine/inner ear/vestibular structures, our findings and how they connect with your symptoms.
  4. How can exercises help?
    By restoring strength and endurance via progressively graded physical activity. The brain can gradually overcome dizziness and imbalance due to a change in the way the balance system is working, following injury or illness. But your system can only learn to cope with the new balance signals if you practice the activities which cause dizziness. Balance retraining exercises give your balance system all the practice it needs, at a time and place where you will not be distracted or put at risk, which ultimately will speed the process of recovery.

Reducing headaches - Treatment may include stretches, strength and motion exercises, eye exercises, hands-on techniques like specialized massage, and the use of technologies such as electrical stimulation.

Returning to normal activity or sport - As symptoms ease and you are able to regain your normal strength and endurance without symptoms returning, your physical therapist will help you gradually add normal activities back into your daily routine. Your physical therapist will help you avoid overloading the brain and nervous system as you increase your activity level in the quickest and safest way possible, while allowing your brain and inner ear to properly heal.

We here at DSPT are here to professionally manage your journey toward caring for and healing your whole self, mind and body. Give us a call to see what we and our network of specialized health care providers can do for you!

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