In case you missed the interesting and informative lecture here at Salemtowne by Kathy Kirse, MPT, of Wake Forest Baptist Health CompRehab, here’s an overview of what you missed:
Balance is our “sixth sense”. Our ability to balance depends on vision and proprioception, and most importantly the Vestibular system (part of our inner ear). When all systems are working well and working together correctly, negotiating our environment is a breeze. However, when our Vestibular system is not doing it’s part, or there is a “mismatch” of messages from the sensory centers, we can experience dizziness or imbalance.
Dare to be dizzy! For many, the solution for balance and dizziness disorders is doing exactly what makes them dizzy or feel unsteady and imbalanced. Vestibular rehabilitation is a movement/exercise approach to decrease or eliminate dizziness/vertigo and improve balance function and safety.
