Could Your Balance Problems Be Coming From Your Inner Ear?
When we think about balance, we often think about muscle strength, eyesight or sensation in our feet and legs. But there is another important part of the balance system that you might not have considered: your vestibular system.
Your vestibular system is located in your inner ear and provides your brain with information about the movement and position of your head. This information works together with information from your eyes and body to help you maintain your balance. It also helps keep your vision stable when your head is moving.
When the vestibular system isn't working properly, some people experience dizziness or a spinning sensation. For others, the main symptom may simply be that you don't feel as steady as you used to.
5 signs your balance problems could be vestibular
1. You feel unsteady when you turn your head
Do you feel less stable when looking over your shoulder, turning to talk to someone or moving your head while walking?
Your vestibular system helps your brain respond to head movement and coordinate your eyes and body. If there is a problem with this system, these everyday movements can sometimes make you feel less steady.
2. Your vision feels blurry or "bouncy" when you move
You may notice that signs or objects seem to move, jump or become blurry when you're walking or turning your head.
This can occur when the vestibular system isn't providing the brain with the information it needs to keep your vision stable during movement.
3. You feel dizzy when getting in or out of bed
Brief episodes of spinning or dizziness when rolling over in bed, lying down, sitting up or looking upwards can be a sign of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
BPPV occurs when tiny calcium-carbonate crystals in the inner ear move into one of the semicircular canals, where they can interfere with the normal detection of head movement.
BPPV can often be treated with specific repositioning manoeuvres.
4. Busy environments make you feel unsteady
Do shopping centres, supermarkets, crowds or walking through busy environments make you feel uncomfortable or off-balance?
Your brain has to process a lot of visual and balance information in these situations. People with vestibular problems can find visually busy environments particularly challenging.
5. You've had unexplained falls or near-falls
If you've started falling or nearly falling without an obvious reason, there may be several possible contributors, including problems with your vestibular system.
Vestibular problems don't necessarily cause obvious dizziness. Imbalance can sometimes be the main symptom.
Vestibular assessment and rehabilitation at FKB Physio
FKB Physio offers vestibular assessment and rehabilitation with Helen Beeley, Senior Physiotherapist, who has more than 30 years of clinical experience and a particular interest in vestibular disorders, falls prevention and rehabilitation.
If any of these symptoms sound familiar, or you have concerns about dizziness or your balance, an assessment may help identify what is contributing to your symptoms.
What happens during a vestibular assessment?
Helen will ask about your symptoms, when they occur and what activities or movements affect them. Depending on your presentation, your assessment may include:
- eye movements and visual stability
- balance in different situations
- responses to head movement
- walking and turning
- positional testing if particular movements trigger dizziness
- how your eyes, inner ears and body work together to maintain balance.
The assessment is individualised because there are many different reasons why someone may feel dizzy or unsteady.
If BPPV is identified, specific positional testing and treatment manoeuvres may be appropriate. Other vestibular problems may be managed with exercises designed to improve gaze stability, balance, walking and tolerance of movement.