| By Sheelah Woodhouse, P.T., BScPT National Director of Vestibular Rehabilitation for LifeMark & Centric Health | Certified Vestibular Therapist | President, Vestibular Disorders Association |
Summertime, and the Living is Not So Easy... If You Have a Vestibular Disorder
Summertime conjures up images of getting outside, traveling, going to social gatherings, having a few drinks on the patio. This all sounds great to most people but if you have a vestibular disorder, there are a lot of elements in these activities that can be a real challenge and can make symptoms worse.
Dizziness Symptoms and the Great Outdoors
First of all, let's look at getting into the great outdoors. Those with vestibular problems can't use the information from their inner ear(s) about balance and orientation as well as they used to. Therefore, they are typically more dependent on the position information they get from their feet and ankles than the rest of us. Walking on surfaces that are not hard and flat spells trouble (!), so walking on the soft grass, sand, or unpaved trails can create unsteadiness and fear of falling.
Balance Challenges on a Plane or Boat
How about travelling? Being on a plane or boat can also be very challenging for those with vestibular problems, again because the information they are getting from the muscles and joints in their bodies is no longer the same as what they get when on solid ground. These forms of travel also create a mismatch in the balance system because the things on the boat or plane that you are looking at suggest that you are stationary because they are moving the same as you, yet your body and your inner ears sense that there is in fact some motion taking place. Usually the inner ear/vestibular system would step in to sort out this conflict, but if that isn’t working properly, people can start to feel quite disoriented and unwell. Looking out of the plane or boat rather than at items inside can be helpful so that your eyes can see that there is some movement taking place, and then can agree with your body and inner ears.
Vestibular Disorders and Visual Cues
Well then let’s just drive to the lake. Driving in a car can create the same scenario as above, especially if sitting in the back seat which makes you more likely to be looking at things inside the car than outside. Just like being more dependent on reliable cues from the ground, those with vestibular disorders are also more dependent on the information about orientation that they get from vision. When that is the case, people can get quite stirred up by visual stimulation: the sunlight flickering through the trees, the motion of other vehicles around them, all the scenery going by. And once you get to the lake, even just watching the movement of the water can be quite disorienting and disturbing.
OK well then let’s just stay home and visit with friends and family. Sounds promising, but at social gatherings where there is the visual stimulation of people milling about, a lot of standing instead of sitting, head turning as you talk to this person and that, this can be a provoking option as well. Add in spongy flip-flops or those great strappy shoes with a bit of a heel, and a few drinks, and those with vestibular disorders often don’t do well here either.
Education, Pacing, Strategic Choices and Appropriate Treatment all Help Vestibular Disorders
All is not lost! With education, pacing, strategic choices and appropriate treatment, those with vestibular disorders can reduce and manage their symptoms and enjoy life! See: http://vestibular.org/living-vestibular-disorder/everyday-challenges#travel for tips. Hopefully the scenarios described above can help those without these disorders appreciate the hidden challenges that those with vestibular problems are trying to work around, and offer their understanding and assistance.
Contact us at lifemarkvestibular.ca - we can help!
