Evaluation and Treatment of Vestibular Disorders

According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, nearly 100 million Americans have experienced a vestibular problem at some point in their lives. There are numerous causes of vestibular dysfunction and the symptoms are many. Head trauma, cervical dysfunction, soft tissue and bony malalignment, and bacterial and viral infections are just some of the causative factors relating to headache, dizziness and vertigo related syndromes. This workshop is designed to enhance participants' awareness of the various indicators relating to headaches, dizziness, vertigo, gait and balance dysfunctions. Individuals with a diagnosed vestibular problem who also exhibit symptoms have an incidence of falling that is 12 times that of the general population. Overall, the cost of medical care for patients with balance disorders exceeds $1 billion per year in the US. Getting effective treatment is frequently complicated by the challenge of diagnosing the specific source of the problem and finding clinicians with the knowledge and experience to treat these individual co-morbiddiagnoses.

This workshop will identify the broad based aspects relating to the complicated dizzy/vertigo/headache/balance compromised patient. There will be an overview of the multiple diagnoses and many syndromes associated with complicated patients who exhibit potential vestibular dysfunction. Participants will learn to combine practical assessment techniques with effective treatment options including different manual therapy approaches to calming thevariety of symptoms relating to patients suffering from multiple diagnoses.

Target Audience: Physical Therapists, Physical Therapist Assistants, Athletic Trainers

Highlights

• Confidently assess the source of vestibular problems and develop a treatment plan that works
• Techniques to efficiently identify and treat BPPV in one session and treatment modifications that can be adapted to any setting
• Functional balance testing: Turning Rombergs into rehab
• Trigger point release techniques to rule out myofascial pain and correct postural malalignments
• Effectively differentiate vestibular disorders from pain syndromes including headaches, and central vs. peripheral nervous system dysfunctions