Vestibular dysfunction affects the body’s balance system. The vestibular system is a sensory process that helps you create a sense of balance, orientation and coordinate movements. A concussion is one of many causes of vestibular dysfunction. Symptoms can include dizziness, imbalance, blurred vision, disorientation, nausea, vertigo, spatial impairment, motion sickness, fatigue, and unsteady gait.

Our physiotherapists can perform both vision and balance tests as well as general physical and cognitive exams to assess the degree of your dysfunction and/or rule out any serious signs for further medical attention. Once an assessment is performed, we will likely create a customized and evidence-based vestibular therapy plan.

Vertigo, or the sudden feeling that the room is spinning around you, is often caused by Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Often described as crystals (calcium deposits) in your ear that are dislodged from its original position. This can be assessed by our physiotherapists who will perform the Dix Hallpike test. To resolve BPPV, a simple treatment called the Epley’s Maneuver could be performed. This takes 5-10 minutes and can often reduce symptoms by 90% just after the first treatment.

If you are experiencing any vestibular dysfunction described above, our physiotherapist can help.