On January 25th, 2017 physical therapist Julie Dmochowski, PT, DPT of Onondaga Physical Therapy attended a full-day seminar in Syracuse, NY titled: The Hands-on Guide to Vestibular Rehabilitation: Clinical Decision Making to Treat Vertigo, Dizziness, and Balance Disorders. The course consisted of over 7 hours of content and hands-on application of skills in order to most effectively evaluate and manage the dizzy patient.
Is it because I am getting older? As we age, our body changes. Our reflexes slow down and our nerve signals are not quite as fast to alert us to make a correction when we lose our balance. Balance is essential to our everyday routine – from getting dressed to taking the dog for a walk, to cooking a meal. Most of the time you don’t have to think about balance – but when you do, it can become frustrating. The feeling of being unsteady can lead to inactivity. Individuals tend to withdraw from their favorite activities or decline invitations due to a fear of falling. The less you do the weaker balance will become and risk for falls will increase. What a vicious cycle!