Vestibular
can help improve or eliminate various problems related to balance and orientation. These include dizziness, balance disorders, risk of falls, and drowsiness. The goal of vestibular rehabilitation therapy is to activate neuroplasticity in the deep brain regions through targeted head, body, and eye exercises, thereby creating stimulation. Targeted diagnosis and therapy can address individual needs, ensuring a successful treatment outcome.
What is VRT Therapy used for:
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) is an effective method that focuses on several key aspects to improve your physical safety and well-being. This includes improving coordination of eye and head movements as well as balance and walking ability.
With VRT therapy, you can also increase your fitness and endurance to move more safely in everyday life. Another important goal of VRT therapy is to desensitize the vestibular system to reduce dizziness symptoms.
This therapy is achieved through targeted exercises that stimulate the vestibular system. To measure the effectiveness of VRT therapy, various parameters such as latency, frequency, and symmetry of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) are measured.
Special equipment such as a rotating chair is used to perform the therapy, allowing clockwise and counterclockwise rotations in different sitting positions. In addition, glasses with an infrared camera are used to test the integrity of the VOR at low frequency.
Innovative methods in vestibular therapy.
- Glasses with an infrared camera enable testing of the integrity of the VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex) at low frequency. The measured parameters include latency, frequency, and symmetry of the VOR. This information provides insights into the course of treatment, monitors progress, and adjusts the following treatment to the individual needs of the client. Through diagnostics, we can also determine which parts of the vestibular system are weak or overly active, or whether certain components require additional therapeutic support. This method has proven to be more accurate than traditional vestibular rehabilitation, thus providing clients with vestibular disorders with significantly better results.
- A rotating chair is pivotal in this rehabilitation method, facilitating changes in position including full-body, head, and eye movements. These activities stimulate specific areas of the inner ear responsible for balance and coordination activities. If necessary, they are combined with other rehabilitation exercises.
- This unique and effective approach to treating vestibular dysfunctions has gained popularity in recent years due to its ability to deliver excellent results compared to traditional methods.
Causes of vestibular disorders.
The most common causes of vestibular disorders include:
- Inner ear diseases (30-50% of cases)
- Cardiovascular problems such as high blood pressure and arrhythmia (5-30%)
- Neurological disorders (2-30%)
- Psychiatric disorders (15-50%)
- Unknown causes (approximately 50%)
Visual impairment or altered movement coordination can affect balance control, leading to falls and difficulties in certain activities.
Exercises using VR technology
are used for these purposes:
01
Coordination of eye and head movements
02
Improvement of balance and walking ability
03
Improvement of fitness and endurance
04
Desensitization of dizziness symptoms to desensitize the vestibular system.
How does
VRT therapy work?
Beim Drehstuhltest trägt der Patient eine Videobrille , sitzt auf einem Drehstuhl und dreht sich für 20-30 Sekunden in eine Richtung. Sein Nystagmus wird aufgezeichnet. Dann wird die Drehung in die entgegengesetzte Richtung für die gleiche Zeitdauer wie zuvor durchgeführt.
During the rotating chair test, the patient wears video glasses, sits on a swivel chair, and rotates in one direction for 20-30 seconds. Their nystagmus is recorded. Then, the rotation is repeated in the opposite direction for the same duration as before. As part of the rotation procedure, the patient is placed on a rotating chair and given special glasses to record eye movements. After rotating in a specific direction for a few seconds, the movement is repeated in the opposite direction. In both cases, eye movements are recorded to capture nystagmus. The results of the eye movement recordings are then compared to identify possible asymmetries or other deviations. Additionally, the patient’s hearing is tested, as the balance and auditory organs send signals to the brain through the same nerve.
Nystagmus refers to involuntary eye movements that occur during rotations. They are an indicator of the functioning of the vestibular system responsible for balance. The results of the eye movement recordings are then compared to identify possible asymmetries or other deviations.
Balance: What it is and its impact on our body
Balance refers to the body’s ability to control and maintain its position and movement in space. It is a complex function that requires smooth collaboration between the visual system (eyes), vestibular system (inner ear), and somatosensory system (proprioception). Good balance allows a person to stand, walk, run, and perform other physical activities without losing balance or falling. It is an important aspect of the human body and can be improved through training and exercises.
Injury, illness,
or the aging process can affect
one or more of these components.
- Dizziness and lightheadedness can manifest as a spinning or swaying sensation, feeling of heaviness, or unilateral traction.
- Balance disorders can lead to various complaints, such including and difficulties in navigating corners. They may result in clumsiness and coordination difficulties. Affected individuals may tend to look downward to keep the ground in view and often hold their head at an angle. When standing or sitting, affected individuals tend to hold onto something. Changes in terrain or footwear can lead to sensitivities, while muscle and joint pain are common consequences of impaired balance. In large, open spaces or crowded places, affected individuals may have difficulty maintaining balance.
- Individuals with visual problems may have difficulty fixing or tracking objects, causing objects or words to appear to jump, blur, or double. Busy visual environments such as traffic, crowds, or shopping malls may also be uncomfortable. In addition, sensitivity to light, glare, and moving or flickering lights, especially fluorescent lights, may occur. It may also be difficult to view certain computer or TV screens. There may be a tendency to fixate on near objects, while it may be uncomfortable to fixate on distant objects. Increased night blindness may also occur, making it difficult to walk in the dark. Finally, there may also be a weakness in depth perception.
- People with hearing problems may experience various symptoms, including hearing loss, distorted and fluctuating hearing, and tinnitus, perceived as ringing, buzzing, roaring, hissing, or other sounds in the ear. Affected individuals may also be more sensitive to loud noises or a noisy environment. In some cases, sudden, loud noises can worsen symptoms such as dizziness or balance problems.
- A lack of concentration, reduced attention, and easy distractibility may be signs of mental issues. Forgetfulness and short-term memory loss often occur as well. Affected individuals may also have difficulty understanding instructions and following the speaker in conversations or meetings. Loud background noises or movements in the background can exacerbate the problems. Often, a lack of concentration is also accompanied by mental or physical fatigue disproportionate to the activity performed.
- Psychological stress associated with these symptoms can lead to loss of independence, low self-confidence, and low self-esteem. Affected individuals may also suffer from anxiety, panic attacks, and social isolation. Depression can also be a consequence.
- The condition may be accompanied by nausea or vomiting, and motion sickness can also be a symptom. Other possible symptoms include a feeling of fullness in the ear, headaches, unclear speech, sensitivity to pressure and temperature changes, and discomfort. Additionally, pain, pressure, or other discomfort may occur with dietary changes.
