The Dizziness & Balance Program
(Vestibular Rehabilitation and Balance Retraining)

Dizziness and balance problems affect 40 percent of people over the age of 40 and dizziness is one of the primary reasons for physician visits.  At Nor Med Therapies we are the only provider of this highly specialized program in the Sherwood Park area. 

Although dizziness can be due to a variety of causes, most dizziness and balance problems come from the vestibular system, a part of the inner ear and the brain that helps control balance and eye movements.  The vestibular apparatus detects head position and head movement, and sends this information to the brain.  The brain uses this information to control our balance and eye movements.
 
Some of the symptoms of vestibular problems can include:

  • Mild dizziness or unsteadiness to violent vertigo and falls.
  • A sense of exaggerated motion with certain head movements or positions
  • Trouble reading, focusing or watching motion
  • Feeling unsettled in busy environments like traffic or shopping malls or on elevators or escalators
  • Unsteadiness, especially in the dark or on uneven surfaces
  • Nausea, poor concentration, headaches, fatigue
  • Depression, loss of self-confidence
  • Decreased social interaction and activity levels.


Vestibular problems can come from:

  •   * Ear infections, injuries, or tumors
  •   * Aging
  •   * Head trauma (due to motor  vehicle accidents, concussion, falls, impact sports, strokes, brain injuries)
  •   * Illness or disease
  •   * Medication
  •   * Blood flow problems in the head
  •   * Or just insidiously (“out of the blue”)


Vestibular rehabilitation is an exercise-based and manual therapy approach to relieve the symptoms associated with peripheral vestibular pathology.  Our physiotherapist has advanced training to assess and treat patients effectively.  Treating vestibular disorders with exercise is not a new phenomenon, however it is only in the last few years that physiotherapists have developed advanced diagnostic techniques and have trained in treating this common and complicated patient population.  Vestibular rehabilitation incorporates evidence-based assessment and treatment techniques.
 
 

On your first visit, you will receive:

  • 60-90 minutes of one-on-one evaluation using the latest Vestibular Rehabilitation assessment techniques by a licensed physiotherapist with post-graduate training and certification in vestibular assessment and treatment.  The fee for assessment is $176.00.
  • Infrared video analysis to detect eye movement called nystagmus, which provides information about the inner ear and its connections in the brain.
  • Education regarding the vestibular system, assessment findings and treatment recommendations.
  • In most cases, when assessment indicates that vestibular rehabilitation is appropriate, it results in a reduction or elimination of symptoms in 2-3 visits. Follow-up visits are generally 30-45 minutes and consist of reassessment of involved areas, review and progression of the home exercise program.  Each treatment session is $88.00.
  • Treatments are not funded by any type of government funding, however they may be partially or fully covered by your extended health care insurance plan.

For further information or to book an appointment, please feel free to contact us.