PLAINSBORO, NJ – The second most complaint heard by physicians in the U.S., according to the Vestibular Disorders Organization, dizziness is a condition that will be experienced by 70 percent of the nation’s population at some point in their lives. That’s the bad news. The good news, according to Jersey Physical Therapy co-founder Marc Rubenstein, PT, DPT, OCS, is that many bouts of dizziness, or vertigo, can be successfully treated with a single visit to a physical therapist.
“Balance is a common problem that can be caused by many things including sensory issues, inner-ear issues, visual problems and issues related to the environment within which one lives,” Rubenstein said. “A common cause of poor balance is vertigo – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) – which can often be treated quickly, without the use of drugs and with great success.”
Studies have shown that about 50 percent of all dizziness experienced by older adults is due to BPPV. BPPV dizziness is caused by debris that has collected over time in the inner ear, and this debris – formerly called otoconia, or calcium carbonate crystals – can disrupt balance. BPPV is often described as dizziness caused by changes in position (e.g., lying down, sitting up or shaking the head) that lasts for a minute or less.
Once diagnosed by Rubenstein using a simple test, a treatment called the Epley maneuver can be applied on site. The treatment works to reposition inner-ear debris, hence eliminating the patient’s brief bouts with vertigo. According to Rubenstein, 80 percent of patients can be successfully treated in a single visit.
“This isn’t just about treating an inconvenience; it’s about personal safety and quality of life,” he said. “We treat several types of balance problems and issues related to fall prevention, whether it’s due to vestibular/inner-ear and sensory issues, muscle and joint problems, or environmental factors in the home.”
A specialty of Jersey Physical Therapy, balance issues will be the focus of the practice’s upcoming free health education forum. Titled “Upright & Confident: Taking Charge of Vertigo, Balance and Other Vestibular Disorders,” the free workshop will be open to the public on Monday, Sept. 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Jersey PT’s new Plainsboro clinic (3 Liberty St., Ste. 1032).
The workshop is part of Jersey Physical Therapy’s monthly Lifestyle Enhancement Series, which features free health education workshops each month of the year through November.
“At Jersey Physical Therapy, patient education is our strength,” said Rubenstein. “When it comes to educating the public, this takes us to another level, providing a compassionate, structured and free environment where people can learn to take control of pain, performance and the prevention of injury.”
