In this podcast episode, physiotherapist Sarah Michiels discusses somatic tinnitus, a type of tinnitus that is often caused by dysfunctions in the upper cervical spine and jaw. She highlights the prevalence of somatic tinnitus and the importance of a comprehensive diagnosis to rule out other causes. The talk provides insights into her evaluation and treatment approach, emphasizes the role of physiotherapy in improving muscle function and coordination to manage this debilitating condition.

Content

00:00 Intro 00:46 Definition of Somatic Tinnitus 01:35 Tinnitus and the Cervical Spine 04:47 Prevalence of Tinnitus 06:22 Epidemiology of Tinnitus 08:15 Physiotherapy Diagnosis Possible? 10:30 ENT Diagnosis of Somatosensory Tinnitus 14:27 Special Testing for Tinnitus 16:00 Cervical Spine Assessments 17:35 Tinnitus and the Jaw 18:51 Red Flags 20:53 Physiotherapy Effectiveness for Somatosensory Tinnitus 22:00 Typical Treatment Course 23:20 What causes Improvements in Symptoms? 25:18 Tinnitus Relapse 27:10 Prognostic Factors 29:30 Sarah's Treatment Approach 31:48 Why Patients get worse 34:15 How to learn more about Tinnitus 35:10 Is MT knowledge required? 36:20 Sarah's Closing Thoughts 37:30 Could Van Gogh have been saved? 38:10 Outro

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Ep. 057 | Ring of Truth: Exploring Physiotherapy's Role in Tinnitus Treatment | Sarah Michiels