Vertigo is a sensation of spinning dizziness. If you or someone you know struggles with chronic vertigo or dizziness you may have heard of the vestibular system. The vestibular system is your balance system and it resides in your inner ear. It consists of three semicircular canals in each ear that are filled with fluid that allow you to know where your head is in space.
Sometimes, there can be an imbalance in the vestibular system where one side is much stronger than the other. If this happens, your body can have the feeling of being dizzy and off-center. If one of the three canals on either side is weaker than the others, this can also contribute to the feeling of dizziness.
The easiest way to determine if someone has an imbalance in their vestibular system is seeing if they consistently hold their head tilted to one side or rotated to one side.
If you want to test your vestibular system, try to balance with one foot in front of the other (heel to toe) and once you feel stable, close your eyes. Next, stand on one foot, and once you feel stable, close your eyes.
This test removes your vision so that you rely solely on your vestibular system. If you can’t balance with your eyes closed, it’s probably because your vestibular system needs balanced and is too weak on one side. If you consistently fall to one side while doing these tests, to the right for example, that generally means the right vestibular system is weaker than the left.
If you have any other questions or would like a phone consultation so you can ask more specific questions about your case, please call the office at 402.504.4676. I look forward to helping you!
