If you haven’t yet heard of your vestibular system, here’s a fun fact - it hangs out in your inner ear! The vestibular system is an important component of balance, allowing us to have a sense of our position and movement through the world. On top of balance, the vestibular system has been said to contribute to many complex processes including space perception, spatial navigation, body representation, attention, memory, mental imagery, and even social cognition. (1)
So if you haven’t heard of it, you might not think you need to care about it. In fact, disorders of the vestibular system are very common. In the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that 35.4% of adults over the age of 40 had vestibular dysfunction. This percentage also increased significantly with age - 84.8% of people over 80 were found to have vestibular dysfunction. (2)
The consequences of vestibular dysfunction can be varied and, in some cases, severe. Many patients will experience symptoms such as blurred vision, vertigo, nausea, and loss of balance that may cause falls. Other patients may experience further issues in spatial navigation and memory tasks. These symptoms can be debilitating, stressful, and may cause you to need time off from work or away from your normal activities. (1)
Up until now, you’re probably thinking this all sounds pretty scary. A system in my inner ear? How can something so small cause all these issues? Here at FYZICAL, we are prepared to help you navigate and tackle your vestibular issues.
At FYZICAL, we approach vestibular disorders systematically. We’re getting all kinds of new technology into our clinic in the coming weeks to allow us to do so. Here are just a few of those things:
Frenzel Goggles might look a little funny, but they’re going to allow us to get a much closer look at your eyes. In disorders of the vestibular system, it is common to see very small fast movements of the eyes, called saccades. This is because your body thinks you’re moving (even when you’re not!), and the eyes are trying to catch up. Frenzel Goggles will allow us to see these movements and use them to guide our decision making.
When your vestibular system is falling behind, your body will tend to compensate with either your vision or your somatosensory system - your touch. This machine will allow us to isolate those compensation patterns, and identify those areas where you can use the most training.
Part of recovery from vestibular dysfunction is - you guessed it - balance training. The SoloStep System will allow us to perform that balance training in the safest way we can. Any of our standing and walking balance exercises can be done while using the SoloStep, which helps to prevent falls and keep you on your feet, even if you’re off-balance.
If you have experienced chronic dizziness, frequent falls, or bouts of vertigo, contact us at FYZICAL South Oak Park for a vestibular evaluation.
References:
1. Lacour M, Bernard-Demanze L. Interaction between Vestibular Compensation Mechanisms and Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy: 10 Recommendations for Optimal Functional Recovery. Front Neurol. 2015;5:285. Published 2015 Jan 6. doi:10.3389/fneur.2014.00285
2. Agrawal Y, Carey J P, della Santina C, Schubert M C, Minor L B. Disorders of balance and vestibular function in US adults. ArchInternMed (2009) 169:938–44. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2009.66