New service ‘Physiotherapy for patients with vertigo’ now open

The development of the new service was a collaboration between the East Tallinn Central Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation Centre and Dr Maret Gardner, a doctor from the Centre of Ear, Nose and Throat Diseases.

"The new service ‘Physiotherapy for patients with vertigo’ is intended for people who experience balance problems and/or dizziness," notes Dr Gardner. "Patients can be referred to the service after they have consulted an ear, nose and throat doctor, a neurologist, an occupational health doctor and other specialists and need balance rehabilitation to alleviate their complaints."

To ensure that the balance rehabilitation carried out by the physiotherapist is as effective as possible, the cause of the patient's symptoms and the potential site of damage must be identified. It is certainly important for the patient to be highly motivated in the treatment process and to consistently practice the balance exercises demonstrated during the sessions at home.

"There are actually a lot of patients with balance disorders and dizziness and they often go without medical help. The main reason for this is the lack of specialists and thus limited availability of services," adds Dr Gardner. "To alleviate symptoms and improve balance function, long-term rehabilitation with the help of a physiotherapist and specially trained nurses is often necessary. Few clinics offer such a service today."

The service takes place as group therapy on Mondays and Thursdays from 16:00 to 17:00 in the Magdaleena unit of East Tallinn Central Hospital (Pärnu mnt 104). The service is provided by physiotherapists Johanna Varik and Natalja Andrejeva. The cost of the service is €13 for a 30-minute session and €26 for an hour-long session. The patient is referred to physiotherapy by an ear, nose and throat doctor or a balance nurse.