Vestibular Disorders And Anatomy Flashcards
What are the different categories of “imbalance” causes?
Non-vestibular
Peripheral vestibular
Central vestibular
Non-organic
Why is it difficult to diagnose “dizziness”?
Bc pts present with varying, cross-system symptoms and complaints
What symptoms/complaints might someone with dizziness complain of?
Instability
Visual issues
Cognitive issues (brain fog)
Vestibulo-sympathetic
Cervical
Anxiety/mood
What are the various “root causes” of dizziness?
Medical
Pharmacological or toxins
Vestibular
Non-vestibular
Aphysiologic
T/f: dizziness and balance issues can be from a variety of origins
True
What are medical root causes of dizziness?
CV issues
Neurological issues
What are pharmacological or toxin root causes of dizziness?
Prescriptions drugs
Polypharmacy
Illicit drugs
Alcohol
What are aphysiologic root causes of dizziness?
Psychological or fxnal overlay
Secondary gain
T/f: when there is a toxic or pharmacological root cause of dizziness, the damage can sometimes be fixed by removing the toxin
True
Why should we pay special attention to a pts past hx of medications?
Bc if they had CA or an infection at some point in their life, it may have caused ototoxic effects
What meds are known for being ototoxic?
-mycin drugs
What classes of drugs can cause dizziness?
Aminoglycoside antibiotics
Antineoplastics
Diuretics
Environmental toxins
Antidepressants
Sedative hypnotics
Anti-anxiety meds
Muscle relaxers
Pain meds
Alcohol
Vestibular suppressants
Anti-hypertensives
What are the vestibular suppressants (don’t know if we actually need to know this)?
Bonine
Antivert
Meclizine
Scopolamine
What meds do physicians often prescribe when pts are dizzy and off balance?
Vestibular suppressants
T/f: pts should avoid LT use of vestibular suppressants
True
T/f: vestibular suppressants can make the problem worse in any situation where the vestibular system is needed
True
If a pt gets dizzy when lying down and sitting down, should we use vestibular suppressants?
NO!!!
If a patient is on dosed vestibular suppressant but we are trying to strengthening the vestibular system, what should we do?
Call their physician to try and get them off it
If a pt is on vestibular suppressants PRN and we are trying to strengthen the vestibular system, what should we do?
Educate them on the meds and that if they feel up to it, they can try not taking them before PT
Who are vestibular suppressants supposed to be used for?
Those with spinning symptoms
What are the parts of the diagnostic process with vestibular disorders?
Excellent hx taking
Medical diagnostics to date
Medical/rehab management to date
Hypothesizing the diagnostic group and probable disorder and testing the hypothesis based on the above
T/f: pts with dizziness may not have had any medical diagnostics done bc their physician just thinks it’s aging
True
When a patient with dizziness has been mismanaged, what it’s important for us to do as PTs?
Understand what has been done and how effective it was
Assure the to that you are taking a different approach
What is the most critical part of hx taking with a pt with dizziness?
LISTENING