Researchers from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis observed that physical therapy lowers the risk of falls among patients experiencing dizziness. The findings were published in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.
The analysis drew on health data from 805,454 adults diagnosed with dizziness. Within a year of diagnosis, about 7 percent of these individuals experienced a fall that prompted medical evaluation.
About 6 percent of all patients sought physiotherapy within three months of presenting dizziness. The physical therapy programs included exercises to improve balance, enhance coordination, and teach strategies to cope with sensations of dizziness.
From three months to one year after the first physician visit, those who received physical therapy had an 86 percent lower risk of falling compared with those who did not receive such treatment.
The researchers also noted that physical therapy was less frequently prescribed to women aged 50 to 59 and to patients with multiple other health conditions.
According to the study authors, timely referral to physical therapy may help reduce the occurrence of falls in adults dealing with various forms of dizziness.
Earlier investigations indicated that widely used nasal decongestants may not be effective for nasal congestion in many patients.