What is vertigo?
Vertigo is the feeling that you and/or your environment are moving or spinning. It differs from dizziness in that vertigo describes an illusion of movement. This should not be confused with symptoms of lightheadedness or fainting and it differs from motion sickness, or the feeling of being off balance such as on a boat.

Common Symptoms
True vertigo symptoms include a sensation perceived as if the room is spinning around you. In addition, the individual may have any or all of these symptoms: nausea, vomiting, sweating, and/or eye movements, visual disturbances, hearing loss, ringing in the ear, and unsteadiness. The duration of symptoms can last from seconds, to minutes or hours.

Anatomical Structures Affected
Since there are a number of different causes of vertigo, the anatomical structures that may be involved are many, and include inner ear structures, nerves connecting the ear to the brain, and decreased blood flow to the back of the brain (from bleeding). Soft-tissue structures of the neck, shoulders, and upper back can also be involved and often tight due to guarding of the neck movements to prevent dizziness symptoms.

Proper Evaluation is Important
Practitioners at Teamworks Health Clinic perform a thorough history and physical examination to evaluate all potential contributing sources of patient symptoms, which includes a thorough assessment of the peripheral and central vestibular systems along with an assessment of the cervical spine (neck) function.

Treatment and Collaborative Management
At Teamworks Health Clinic your practitioner will utilize a combination of techniques and strategies in order to maximize recovery and return you to optimal functioning. We believe in collaborative care, where different practitioners work together to streamline care and healing. One of our paramount goals is to give the patient the tools to be able to self-manage their condition, both for symptom control and symptom-prevention.

Physiotherapy

• If the ear is affected, special maneuvers are performed to help reposition any dislodged crystals from the inner ear structures.
• Tailored exercises to maximize the body’s positive compensation for the vertigo and balance issues.
• Manual therapy techniques to restore alignment and mobility of cervical spine
• Self-care strategies such as a home exercise program to increase carry-over affects of treatment benefits.
• Education on vestibular system, cervical spine, posture and body mechanics along with encouragement and guidance to resume activities safely.

Chiropractic

• Soft-tissue therapies such as Active Release Technique (ART®) are highly effective in restoring proper tissue range of motion, reducing scar tissue, and improving overall neck and upper back function.
• Exercise prescription to promote and maintain strength and stability.
• Postural re-training to reduce daily stress around the neck.
• Spinal mobilizations/adjustments to restore motion and decrease stiffness.

Registered Massage Therapy
Our massage therapists provide deep tissue release using various myofascial techniques in order to reduce chronic stress and strain patterns, remove scar tissue, and restore ideal movement between muscles and tendons.

Acupuncture
Very fine needles are inserted around joints in the neck and/or other parts of the body to reduce inflammation, promote circulation, and alleviate pain.

Clinical Dietetics
It is true that we are what we eat. The human body is great at healing itself, though if the proper fuel is lacking (balanced nutrients through proper food choices), the body’s healing capacity is affected. Our Registered Dietitian provides patients with the necessary tools to make healthy food choices in order to optimize healing. She also supports dietary changes in a variety of clinical conditions.