Understanding The Vestibular System: The System That We All Have And Don’t Know We Need
Have you ever been walking with a friend and feel like you keep bumping into them?
You always joke about not being able to stay in a straight line but you know it’s actually true?
The inability to walk in a straight line is actually an indication that your vestibular system isn’t working as optimally as it should. The ability to stay upright, walk in a straight line, or quickly look both ways before crossing the street while running are simple and automatic tasks we all do without thinking twice. Doing these things are all thanks to a remarkable yet often overlooked system in your body called the vestibular system. In this blog, we'll take a big picture and easy-to-understand look at what the vestibular system is and how it helps us maintain our balance.
What Is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system is one of your body's internal balance systems. It's a complex set of structures located within your inner ear, which work together to send important signals to your brain about your head's position and movement. These signals help you maintain your balance, perceive your orientation in space, and even coordinate your eye movements. It’s such a small system, the size of a dime actually, but has a huge role in keeping you steady on your feet and telling your body where it is in space.
Key Components of the Vestibular System
Inner Ear: The vestibular system begins in your inner ear, specifically in the semicircular canals and the otolith organs. These organs are filled with fluid that moves when you change your head's position.
Vestibular Nerve: Information from the inner ear travels along the vestibular nerve to your brain.
Brain: Your brain processes this information and helps you make sense of your body's position and movement.
How does it work?
The vestibular system helps you in three primary ways:
Balance: When you tilt your head or body, the fluid in your inner ear shifts, and this change in fluid movement is detected by tiny hair cells in the inner ear. These hair cells send signals to your brain, which then makes adjustments to keep you balanced.
Orientation/Proprioception: The vestibular system helps you know which way is up, even if you're in the dark or your eyes are closed. It tells your brain if you're sitting, standing, or doing a handstand.
Spatial Awareness: It also helps you understand where you are in your surroundings. It's why you can walk in a straight line, push your brakes at the right time to avoid hitting the car in front of you, or reach for a glass on the table without knocking it over.
Why is the Vestibular System Important?
The vestibular system plays a crucial role in our daily lives. It helps us avoid accidents, stay oriented, and move smoothly. Without it, simple tasks like walking, driving, and even enjoying a rollercoaster, would be incredibly challenging. When you're standing still or walking, the vestibular system constantly communicates with your brain, allowing you to maintain your balance, keep your head upright, and even focus on an object as you move.
The vestibular system also helps coordinate your eye movements. Have you ever noticed how your eyes stay focused on a point even when you turn your head? That's your vestibular-ocular reflex at work, ensuring your eyes move smoothly as your head does. This allows us to walk through grocery stores or go on hikes and be able to keep images clear and focused without feeling like our whole world is bouncing as we move.
Problems with the Vestibular System?
Sometimes, the vestibular system can experience issues, which can lead to problems with balance and spatial awareness. This might result from an ear infection, head injury or concussion, crystals getting dislodged in the canals causing positional vertigo (BPPV), or a medical condition like Meniere’s disease. People with vestibular disorders might experience dizziness, vertigo, motion sickness, blurry or lagging vision, and difficulty with everyday activities.
So what can i do about it?
When your vestibular system is compromised, your whole world can literally feel off. But now you hopefully have a better understanding of why it feels this way. But it doesn’t have to stay like this! Your vestibular system, just like the other systems in your body, can be addressed and managed with vestibular rehabilitation.
Vestibular rehabilitation can fix dislodged crystals in the canals of the inner ear causing positional vertigo through canal repositioning maneuvers. It can address lagging vision by strengthening that vestibular ocular reflex.
We can strengthen the communication of the inner ear and coordination of eye movements with the brain so that those signals telling you where you are in space are more efficient and more accurate. We can challenge your balance by biasing the other systems and making the vestibular system work harder.
There is so much that can be done to strengthen and improve your vestibular system, and that is exactly what we focus on at Rebalance Physical Therapy. Don’t continue to live in disarray. Click below to call us or get scheduled today!
Conclusion
The vestibular system may be an unacknowledged system in our bodies, but it's undoubtedly a vital one. It ensures we can stand tall, walk with confidence, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life without constantly toppling over. So the next time you successfully navigate a busy sidewalk or stay upright after losing your footing, take a moment to appreciate your vestibular system—it's working hard to help you navigate the world and keep you in balance. Rebalance Physical Therapy is located in Greenville, SC. If you need assistance finding a therapist near you, contact us and we would love to help!
