Vestibular system helps to enable us to balance; walk; run; focus when turn our head (e.g. whilst driving; shopping etc.); read, write, negotiate varied terrain, surf to playing sports.
The Vestibular System involves the human visual system (eyes); inner ear; the proprioceptive systems and central brain processing systems which involves various complex brain and spinal connections. The vestibular system can be affected by disorders which are often classified as Central Vestibular (brain, brainstem, cerebellum; parietal as well as connections to the cervical spine) or Peripheral (inner ear and vestibular nerve) Vestibular conditions. Dr Zapanta at Emedicine describes Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy:
¨Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a form of physical therapy that uses specialized exercises that result in gaze and gait stabilization. ¨
Full article: Vestibular Rehabilitation
Vestibular Physiotherapy
Vestibular Physiotherapists provide assessment and treatment of the following:- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Disequilibrium/ Falls
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Meniere’s Disease
- Age-related dizziness and imbalance
- Autoimmune Inner Ear Disease
- Cervicogenic Dizziness
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Central Vestibular Brain e.g. MS
- Concussive Impacts Sports Injuries; Road traffic accidents
- Brain Tumours (brainstem and cerebellar in particular)
- Strokes
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome
- Upper Cervical Spine
- Brainstem affecting oculomotor; vestibulocochlear nerves
SPECIALISED STAFF
Una Cusack has particular interest in treating patients with Central Vestibular problems arising from in light of how individuals with:- Brain trauma
- Brain tumours
- Strokes
- Guillian Barre Syndrome
- Concussive impacts
- Upper Cervical and Brainstem affect
