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Vertigo Specialist

Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center Our Services Vertigo

Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center

Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation located in Greenbelt, MD & Olney, MD

Most people experience at least one short-lived episode of vertigo, and it’s usually not something to worry about. But if your vertigo recurs or is severe, it’s time to seek treatment. The team at Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center has extensive experience creating physical therapy treatment plans that minimize or eliminate vertigo, restore balance, and lower your risk of falls. If you need help with vertigo, call the office in Greenbelt, Olney, Bowie, Riverdale, Glen Burnie, or Laurel, Maryland, or book an appointment online today. Same-day and next-day appointments are available.

Vertigo Q & A

What is vertigo?

Vertigo is a type of dizziness that gives you the sensation that your surroundings are spinning around. Along with the spinning, you may also:

  • Lose your balance
  • Have uncontrollable eye movements
  • Feel disoriented
  • Have ringing in your ears
  • Develop headaches

Dizziness includes sensations such as lightheadedness and a loss of balance, as well as vertigo. Vertigo and dizziness can both be symptoms of serious conditions such as cardiovascular disease or low blood sugar. 

What causes vertigo?

Vertigo may develop when a health condition affects the area of your brain responsible for balance. You can also have vertigo if you have a problem with your inner ear or the auditory nerve. Dizziness and vertigo are symptoms of a group of conditions called vestibular disorders. 

The causes of vertigo include: 

  • Inner ear infection
  • Inflamed or damaged nerve
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
  • Migraines
  • Stroke
  • Brain tumors
  • Traumatic brain injury
  • Multiple sclerosis

Of all the possible causes, the most common is BPPV. BPPV occurs when tiny calcium crystals (canaliths) get into the fluid-filled tubes in your inner ear. These tubes regulate balance. If the crystals affect the fluid’s movement, you end up with vertigo.

How is vertigo treated?

As specialists in balance and vestibular disorders, the team at Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center performs comprehensive assessments and creates individualized treatment plans based on the underlying cause of your vertigo.

People with vertigo have a high risk of falling. If your vertigo returns or needs ongoing treatment, your therapist sets up a customized plan to minimize your risk.

Vertigo, dizziness, and vestibular problems improve with treatments such as:

  • Balance training
  • Posture training
  • Manual physical therapy
  • Fall prevention education
  • Vestibular rehabilitation
  • Canalith repositioning techniques

Canalith repositioning techniques effectively treat vertigo caused by BPPV. The team specializes in two canalith procedures: the Epley and Semont maneuvers.

During both repositioning techniques, your therapist puts your body through a series of movements that change your head position. As you move, the crystals leave the fluid-filled tubes and go into an area where they don’t cause problems.

Both procedures take about 10 or 15 minutes. Many patients get relief after one treatment, while others may need several.

If you have episodes of vertigo, call Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Center or book an appointment online. 

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