Vestibular Rehabilitation
Physiophix has Physiotherapists with advanced training and certification in the assessment, diagnosis and rehabilitation of:-
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Unilateral Vestibular Hypofunction (including Meniere’s Disease, Vestibular Neuritis)
- Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction
- Cervicogenic Dizziness
- Dizziness following a car accident or fall
- Poor balance
- Post-concussion rehabilitation
Videonystagmography (VNG)
- Physiophix is one of the only clinics on the Central Coast to use VNG testing.
- VNG utilises goggles with an infrared camera to assess nystagmus during a number of different tests.
- Nystagmus is an involuntary eye movement that occurs when you have vertigo or a vestibular problem. The pattern of nystagmus or eye movement helps diagnose your problem.
- Diagnosing vertigo or other vestibular problems using VNG is much more accurate than not using an infrared camera. The infrared camera will record your eye movements so you and the Physiotherapist can watch after the test.
Example video of a patient with nystagmus using VNG testing.
Vestibular Appointments
Duration
- Initial appointments are up to 1 hour in duration.
- Follow-up appointments are up to 40 minutes
Cost
- Initial appointments are $140
- Follow-up appointments are $100
- Hicaps is available for Private Health Fund rebates.
- Chronic Disease Management Plan rebates available.
Initial Appointment – What to Expect
- Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to complete some paperwork.
- Prior to your assessment with the Physiotherapist, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire about your symptoms. This will assist with diagnosis and give the Physiotherapist an insight into how much your vertigo affects you.
- The Physiotherapist will ask you a number of questions followed by a comprehensive assessment (including VNG testing) in order to establish an accurate diagnosis.
- If time allows, treatment will be administered and you may be given some exercises to do at home.
- Physiophix recommends that you do not drive to your first appointment, please organise a lift.
Follow-up Appointments
- Depending on your diagnosis, follow-up appointments will be 2-7 days after your initial appointment.
- BPPV (vertigo due to crystals in your ear) resolves in 90% of cases within 2-3 sessions.
- Other conditions such as vestibular hypofunction, post-concussion rehabilitation and balance disorders require several months of treatment. In these cases you will be seen every 2-4 weeks to assess your progress and update your home exercise program.
Further Assessment
- You may be referred back to your GP to prescribe suitable medications, organise a referral for scans, or organise a referral to see a Neurologist or other Specialist.
- If required, the Physiotherapist may refer you for Vestibular Functioning testing.
- You may be asked to get a hearing test.
Conditions we Cannot Treat
- Tinnitus
- Hearing Loss
Check out this video that explains the cause of BPPV