Vestibular Assessment

1. Vestibular Assessment and the SportKat 1000

2. Information About Balance Problems Normal balance requires the integration of three sensory systems: - visual - vestibular (found in the inner ear), and - somatosensory (sensations from the skin, muscles, tendons and joints) in addition to muscle strength. When these systems are not functioning well, individuals may experience episodes of spinning, light-headedness, trouble focusing their eyes and/or poor balance or falls.

3. A Closer Look at the Vestibular system... What is the Vestibular System? The first sensory system to fully develop by six months after conception is the vestibular system, which controls the sense of movement and balance. This system is the sensory system considered to have the most important influence on the other sensory systems and on the ability to function in everyday life. Directly or indirectly, the vestibular system influences nearly everything we do. It is the unifying system in our brain that modifies and coordinates information received from other systems.

4. Types of Balance Problems Vertigo (A false sense of motion or spinning) Feeling of Faintness Loss of Balance (Disequilibrium) Lightheadedness

5. Vertigo (A false sense of motion or spinning) Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) - A problem of the inner ear caused by particles that break off and accumulate behind a membrane in the posterior canal. Inflammation in the inner ear - Neuronitis or labyrinthitis generally subsides and clears up on its own. Although the cause of this condition is unknown, it may be a viral infection. Meniere's disease - This disease is characterized by excessive buildup of fluid in the inner ear characterized by sudden episodes of vertigo lasting 30 minutes to an hour or longer and buzzing, ringing or a feeling of fullness in the ear and fluctuating hearing loss. Vestibular migraine - People who experience a vestibular migraine are very sensitive to motion. Dizziness and vertigo caused by a vestibular migraine may be triggered by turning the head quickly, being in a crowded or confusing place, driving or riding in a vehicle. It may cause feelings of imbalance or unsteadiness, hearing loss, "muffled" hearing, or ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

6. Vertigo Cont’d Acoustic neuroma - An acoustic neuroma is a noncancerous (benign) growth on the acoustic nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain. Symptoms of an acoustic neuroma may include dizziness, loss of balance, hearing loss and tinnitus. Motion sickness - Riding on a roller coaster or in boats, cars or even airplanes may occasionally make people dizzy.

7. Feeling of Faintness (Presyncope) Drop in blood pressure (orthostatic hypotension) - A significant drop in systolic blood pressure -- the higher number in a blood pressure reading -- may result in light-headedness or a feeling of faintness. It can occur after sitting up or standing too quickly. Inadequate output of blood from the heart - Conditions such as partially blocked arteries (atherosclerosis), disease of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) or a decrease in blood volume, may cause inadequate blood flow from the heart.

8. Loss of Balance (Disequilibrium) Inner ear (vestibular) problems - Abnormalities in the inner ear can cause a sensation of floating or a heavy head -- and unsteadiness in the dark. Balance disorders - Failing vision and nerve damage in the legs (peripheral neuropathy) are common in older adults and may result in difficulty maintaining balance. Joint and muscle problems - Muscle weakness and osteoarthritis, the type of arthritis that involves wear and tear of the joints, can contribute to loss of balance when it involves weight-bearing joints. Medications - Loss of balance can be a side effect from certain medications, such as seizure drugs, sedatives and tranquilizers -- or an indication of overmedication.

9. Lightheadedness Vestibular disorders - These abnormalities of the inner ear can lead to illusions of motion and a sensation of floating. Anxiety disorders - Certain anxiety disorders such as panic attacks and a fear of leaving home or being in large, open spaces (agoraphobia) may cause lightheadedness. Hyperventilation - Abnormally rapid breathing that often accompanies anxiety disorders may cause a feeling of light-headedness.

10. Types of Vestibular Evaluation include: 1. Posturography - tells the physician which part of the balance system (visual, vestibular, or somatosensory) the patient relies on the most and which parts may cause problems. 2. Electronystagmography (ENG) - an ENG test analyzes eye movements to check how well the inner ear balance mechanism works. 3. Rotary-chair testing - patients sit in a computer-controlled chair that moves very slowly in a full circle. 4. Dix-Hallpike test - this is a noninvasive positional procedure used to accurately determine if a person has benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). 5. Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) - electrodes measure tiny changes in neck muscle contractions Other tests that may be used are: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan, blood tests and cardiac function tests.

11.  SportKat 1000

12. SportKat is a patented Kinesthetic Ability Trainer (or SPORTKAT ) an innovative tool for the evaluation and rehabilitation of neurosensory (or balance) deficits focuses on the development of dynamic balance, strength, muscle control, proprioceptive, and vestibular improvement offers an infinite range of adjustable settings to accommodate people with varied body weights and physical activity levels. provides a way to test and train the nerves (proprioceptors) that control the muscles of the body that enable us to stand, run, jump and otherwise perform day to day functions

13. How does the SportKat 4000 work? This fully computerized balance trainer requires the patient to stand on a movable platform (which is mounted on an inflatable bladder) and perform a series of exercises while viewing the monitor.

14. Features of the SportKat include: 19” Monitor Wireless Mouse & keyboard Printer (Ability to Generate Printed Reports) Handrails for additional safety Larger Base for increased stability Microprocessor-based Pump Control Computer Assisted Data System featuring the SPORTKAT WIN software Thermal Accelerometer Provisions for Both Static and Dynamic Balance Assessment Multiple Built-in Training Programs Diversified Difficulty Levels for Testing and Training Automatically Stored Test Data for each user by date, time and type of test, allowing for progress analysis Tracking Software capable of maintaining data for multiple users, including personal data, medical data and a test editor Ability to Transfer Files for Additional Analysis

15. Additional Features include: thermal accelerometer to measure the user's balancing ability SPORTKAT WIN Interactive Software desktop computer with monitor optional computer stand ability to create original training programs increased performance analysis including multiple levels of training difficulty and a variety of scoring calculations

16. Why is it effective? The SportKat 4000 requires the three systems (visual, proprioception and vestibular) that are necessary for balance, to work together in an integrated manner, in order to accomplish a task. Because of the redundancies in our brain, new pathways are found and the amount of reaction time is decreased dramatically.

17. The SportKat is PC compatible and its data system has four basic functions: 1. Data Input or Recall 2.  Balance Assessment 3.  Balance Training 4.  Testing or Training Results

18. The SportKat is effective for treating patients with: Post Acoustic Neuroma Resection (Brain Tumors) Head Trauma Post Concussion Meniere’s Disease Vertiginous Migraines Vestibular Neuronitis Presbystasis It also has recently been an effective rehabilitation tool for MS, Parkinson’s and Ataxia patients.

19. For more information on SportKat contact: SportKat Headquarters6255 Ferris Square, Suite ESan Diego, CA 92121Toll Free 800-743-0575858-866-3393Fax 858-866-3933 info@SportKat.com