A Occupational Therapist is assisting a patient to the refrigerator

Dizziness & Balance Disorders

That light headed feeling is not always just in your head. It is easy for us to take our sense of balance for granted. Most of the time we are able to actively participate in a wide variety of challenging activities without difficulty.

There are times, however, when our sense of balance feels "off." We might feel lightheaded, woozy, wobbly or dizzy. We might feel dizzy when we look up, bend over, lie down or roll over in bed. We might feel unsteady anytime we are on our feet or only when we are in a grocery store or in a room full of people. These feelings can make everyday activities frightening as well as dangerous.

Dizziness or vertigo is commonly caused by a problem in the inner ear while balance problems can be caused by many factors including vision, arthritis, neurological conditions, or decreased sensation in the feed, to name a few.

If you have experienced symptoms of dizziness or unsteadiness, you should contact your physician. They will be able to assist you in identifying the possible cause (or causes) of your symptoms and can most accurately help you to manage them.

In most cases, the vestibular rehabilitation program at Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems may be able to assist you and your physician in improving or at least controlling your symptoms of dizziness and/or steadiness. A comprehensive evaluation will be completed followed by the development of a symptom-specific, individualized program of guidelines and exercises to control your dizziness and how it affects your independence.

With a referral from your physician, the Occupational Therapist at MCHHS can help you control symptoms of dizziness, strengthen your balance and resume a safer, more active lifestyle.