Physical Therapy
Experience specialized physical therapy with our expert team at Katmai Eye & Vision Center, where vision-vestibular, postural and neuro rehabilitation converge to restore movement, balance and clarity.
What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapists treat a wide range of patients, including those recovering from injuries, surgeries, traumatic or acquired (stroke, surgery) brain injuries, or chronic conditions that affect movement and balance. They work with individuals of all ages, from infants to the elderly, addressing issues such as balance, spatial awareness, coordination, neurological disorders, visual vestibular complications, vertigo and dizziness.
Patients learn to use their visual abilities in new and more efficient ways by participating in various vision exercises that utilize lenses, prisms, filters, patches and other materials and equipment. Exercises are designed to bring a skill or set of skills to conscious awareness, practice using those skills to mastery so they become automatic.
The overall goal of treatment is to alleviate signs and symptoms of visual function problems, maximize visual and overall performance, meet the patient’s needs and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Common conditions treated are:
- Dizziness or nausea
- Reach and grab inaccuracies because of impaired depth perception
- Balance and movement difficulties like drifting when walking, stumbling or falling
- Driving difficulties with lane positioning, proper speed maintenance, multitasking, navigation
- Spatial disorientation
- Consistently stays to one side of hallway or room
- Bumps into objects when walking
- Poor walking or posture: leans back on heels, forward, or to one side when walking, standing or seated in a chair
- Perception of the floor being tilted
- Associated neuromotor difficulties with balance, coordination and posture
Physical therapists address a variety of conditions, including:
Visual, Vestibular, Postural & Gait Issues
Problems affecting balance and movement. visual and vestibular conditions.
Musculoskeletal Imbalances & Injuries
Congenital, developmental and acquired gait disorders, sprains, strains, fractures, and acute and chronic pain.
Neurological Disorders
Stroke recovery, spinal cord injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Pain Management
Chronic pain conditions and rehabilitation after trauma.
Vestibular-Visual Physical Therapy
Vertigo, dizziness, and imbalance, from a concussion, stroke or other neurological condition, are often, more debilitating than musculoskeletal complaints because it limits your ability to walk, drive, work, or care for your family.
Physical therapists use vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) to treat issues related to the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), which helps stabilize vision during head movements. This therapy includes specific exercises designed to improve balance and reduce dizziness by retraining the brain’s response to vestibular input. These exercises are tailored to individual needs and are essential for effective vestibular rehabilitation.
What is Vestibular-Visual Rehabilitation Therapy
Just like you strength train for weak muscles, you can do physical therapy exercises to address vertigo, imbalance, headaches, or post-brain injury (traumatic, surgery or stroke). You have an apparatus in your inner ear that tells your body where it is in space and controls your equilibrium, it is known as your vestibular system. It allows you to turn your head and keep your vision focused, balance on one leg, drive in traffic, walk through a crowded grocery store, and stay active. This, in conjunction with your vision and joint receptors help keep you upright and balanced.
Common conditions treated are:
- Migraines
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Imbalance
- Neck pain
- Concussion, brain injury, or stroke
- Vertigo
- Visual or spatial difficulties
- Hypofunction (weakness of your vestibular system)
Physical therapists develop individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s specific needs, helping them regain function and improve their quality of life.
Postural Physical Therapy
Postural Physical Therapy is a physical therapy is based on the understanding that the human body is asymmetrical. On the outside, we appear symmetrical having two eyes, two arms, two legs, etc., most commonly this is not how we function. We are either right or left handed, we often have different prescriptions for each eye, or hear better out of one ear, cross our legs one way over the other and carry our bags in one hand on one shoulder.
These symmetries and movement patterns can impact health over time. When one or multiple systems are out of alignment including the visual systems and we may lose the ability to breathe, rotate, and rest normally, making adaptations for these improper positions. When this happens, it can impact our joints and posture, but also our heart rate, digestion and breathing. Most often there is collaboration with other medical professionals, including dentists, optometrists, naturopaths, massage therapists and orthodontists.
Some of the most common symptoms of asymmetry include:
- Visual problems
- Head and neck tension
- Shoulder knee and back pain
- TMJ/Jaw pain
- Migraines/Headaches
- Chronic fatigue
- Confusion
- Dizziness/Lightheadedness
Physical therapists develop individualized treatment plans tailored to each patient’s specific needs, helping them regain function and improve their quality of life.
Make your appointment today with either Dr. Sheryl Lentfer or Dr. Laura Sifferman.