Dizziness and Balance Disorders

Clinic offers solutions

Julie Anderson Wright, physical therapist

Midwest HealthStrategies

Q. I’ve recently been experiencing dizzy spells more frequently, what can I do?
A. The first step should be to talk with your primary care physician. But it is important to know that a very valuable resource is offered locally for people who feel unsteady on their feet or experience symptoms of dizziness. Physical Therapists at the Dizziness and Balance Disorders Clinic located in the Motion Analysis and Therapy Complex in Muncie, work with those who experiences dizziness like spinning, rocking, or motion sensitivity and balance problems.

Q. Who are some of the people that benefit from the clinic?
A. As we age, the incidence of balance problems increases, so we see many of these type of individuals, but we also work with a variety of other people. At the clinic, therapists work with individuals young and old who have inner ear problems, people coping with neurological difficulties brought on by stroke, Parkinson’s, or traumatic brain injury.

Q. So what is a normal session like?
A. Initially, a physical therapist examines how the dizziness or imbalance started. A general strength test is then completed as well as a visual test looking at how well the patients sees with their head moving which plays a big part in balance or feeling of dizziness. The patient is put through an assessment of their balance in standing under a variety of conditions. The patient often is tested on a computerized program which reads helps identify where the problem is coming from. After studying the results of all the initial testing, the therapist targets the treatment program specifically to what will be most helpful to that individual.

Q. Once you’ve pinpointed the source of the problem, what is the next step?
A. Often it’s a combination of things. If it is an inner ear problem, we may do more head motion or visual exercises. The target areas differ from patient to patient, but most programs will contain head movements, balance activities and training with different equipment in the Motion Analysis and Therapy Complex. The therapists try to work through little bits of movement that makes patient experience some dizziness so that the brain can start to settle out the balance problems. It’s a repetitive type of activity, the more you practice it the better it gets because the brain will adapt. Our brains are constantly trying to balance us out, so all we’re doing is giving the brain the information needed to be able to fix itself.

Julie Anderson Wright is a physical therapist at Midwest HealthStrategies. For more information on the Dizziness and Balance Disorders Clinic, call (765) 751-2555 or send an email to info@chsmail.org.

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