Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) occurs when the brain has difficulty responding to sensory information from the environment. Sound, textures or balance-related cues can overwhelm those with sensory issues. The vestibular system, which controls balance, spatial awareness, and coordination, is one area commonly affected by SPD in individuals. Vestibular physiotherapy in Edmonton is an effective treatment method that helps individuals with SPD regain control over their sensory responses, particularly in managing balance issues and improving motor function.
What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) occurs when the brain has trouble interpreting or responding to sensory inputs correctly. While everyone experiences sensory stimuli, people with SPD can have heightened (hypersensitivity) or diminished (hyposensitivity) responses to sensory experiences. This can manifest in difficulties with tasks that require motor coordination, balance, and sensory integration. For example,
- Hypersensitivity might cause an individual to become easily overwhelmed by noises, touch, or movement.
- Hyposensitivity may result in a lack of awareness of body positioning or a need for intense movement to feel grounded.
One key system impacted by SPD is the vestibular system. It is responsible for the balance and spatial awareness. People with SPD may have difficulty processing information from this system, leading to problems with balance and movement.
How Vestibular Physiotherapy Helps with SPD
Vestibular physiotherapy targets the vestibular system by providing exercises and techniques that help improve balance, coordination, and motor control. It stimulates the vestibular system, allowing the brain to process and respond to sensory information more effectively.
For individuals with SPD, vestibular physiotherapy can help in the following ways:
- Improving Balance and Stability: Vestibular exercises strengthen the brain’s ability to process balance-related information, reducing falls and improving posture.
- Increasing Spatial Awareness: Physiotherapy improves a person’s ability to understand their position in space, which helps with movement and coordination.
- Reducing Sensory Overload: By retraining the brain to tolerate and process sensory inputs, vestibular physiotherapy can help individuals manage sensory overload.
- Enhancing Coordination: Regular vestibular exercises help integrate sensory systems, improving gross and fine motor skills.
- Minimizing Dizziness and Vertigo: Exercises can reduce feelings of dizziness and vertigo, which are common in SPD and often triggered by movement or specific environments.
Effective Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy Techniques for SPD
Below are some specific exercises a physiotherapist may use to help individuals with SPD through vestibular physiotherapy in Edmonton. These exercises are designed to gradually stimulate the vestibular system, assisting the brain in better processing and integrating sensory inputs.
Gaze Stabilization Exercises
Gaze stabilization exercises enhance the ability to maintain the al focus during head movements, assisting the brain in processing visual and vestibular information more effectively. In a typical exercise, an individual holds a target, such as a pen, at eye level and moves the head from side to side or up and down while keeping the target in focus. The movement starts slowly, with speed increasing gradually as tolerance improves. For added difficulty, the target can be held farther away, or the exercise can be done while standing or walking. This practice strengthens the connection between the eyes and vestibular system, reducing dizziness and improving control during head movements.
Balance and Postural Control Exercises
Balance exercises are essential for those with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) who experience difficulties with coordination and stability. These exercises help the body maintain balance in various positions, starting with simple tasks like standing on one leg for 10–20 seconds. An unstable surface, such as a foam pad, can be introduced to increase closing. Dynamic pros to increase the challenge sessions may include walking while balancing on one leg or performing squats on an unstable surface. These exercises improve postural control and stability, making it easier to maintain daily activities.
Head Moveme Easier and Sensory Integration
Sensory integration exercises involve controlled head movements to help desensitize the brain to movement-related stimuli, fostering better integration between the vestibular and visual systems. A joint exercise includes sitting comfortably and turning the head side to side, up and down, and diagonally while focusing on a stationary object. This helps encourage visual tracking. As the exercise becomes more accessible, it can be performed standing or walking or combined with additional movements like reaching with the arms. These exercises enable individuals with SPD to better process and respond to movement, reducing dizziness and improving coordination.
Habituation Exercises
Habituation exercises gradually expose individuals to movements or situations that typically trigger dizziness or sensory overload, reducing sensitivity to these stimuli over time. This process involves engaging in simple movements, like tilting the head, rotating the body, or looking up and down, and repeating these motions to help desensitize the vestibular system. Over time, intensity and range of motion can be increased as tolerance builds. These exercises support the brain’s adaptation to sensory stimuli, reducing the likelihood of sensory overload in everyday situations.
Proprioceptive Training
Proprioceptive training exercises enhance body awareness, which can be diminished in individuals with SPD. These exercises focus on muscle and joint feedback, helping the body understand its position in space more accurately. Simple activities can enhance posture and movement awareness, such as walking on a balance beam and standing on one leg with eyes closed while adjusting strides. To perform the balance beam walk, step one foot directly in front of the other along the beam, maintaining posture and balance. Incorporating unstable surfaces like a wobbleboard may further challenge the balance. Proprioceptive training helps individuals improve posture and coordination, reducing the risk of falls and enabling smoother movements.
Enhancing Sensory Integration with Vestibular Physiotherapy Rehabilitation
Vestibular physiotherapy in Edmonton is a practical approach for individuals with Sensory Processing Disorder. With consistent, individualized exercise programs, individuals enable individuals with SPD to have confident, coordinated, and balanced lives. If you or a loved one are struggling with Sensory Processing Disorder, Turning Point Physiotherapy in Edmonton offers specialized vestibular physiotherapy services tailored to individual needs.
Contact us today to schedule an assessment and begin your journey towards better balance and enhanced sensory integration.
