POTS & Dysautonomia Physiotherapy
POTS & Dysautonomia Rehabilitation in Tauranga, Papamoa & Mount Maunganui
The Rehab Team provides neurological physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation for people living with POTS, dysautonomia and other conditions affecting the autonomic nervous system.
Our rehabilitation focuses on improving exercise tolerance, managing orthostatic symptoms and gradually rebuilding physical capacity through an individualised, evidence-based approach.
POTS and dysautonomia can have a significant impact on everyday life. Symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, rapid heart rate, brain fog and exercise intolerance can make standing, walking, working, exercising and participating in normal daily activities challenging.
Our Neurological Physiotherapists work alongside your medical team to understand how your symptoms are affecting your function and develop a rehabilitation programme based on your current capacity, goals and response to activity.
The Rehab Team is an in-home service. We provide in-home physiotherapy throughout Tauranga, Papamoa and Mount Maunganui. For clients living outside of these areas, an online appointment may be suitable.
What is dysautonomia?
Dysautonomia is a general term used to describe problems with theautonomic nervous system. Your autonomic nervous system regulates many functions that happen automatically, including your heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow, body temperature and digestion.
Dysautonomia can occur for many different reasons and can be associated with conditions such as POTS, orthostatic hypotension, neurological conditions, hypermobility, post-viral illness and other complex health conditions.
Dysautonomia rarely looks exactly the same in two people. This is why rehabilitation needs to be individualised.
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a condition affecting the autonomic nervous system. People with POTS experience symptoms when upright, often alongside an excessive increase in heart rate after standing. Common symptoms include:
Dizziness, light-headedness or nausea
Racing or pounding heart
Feeling faint or near-fainting
Fatigue, brain fog or headaches
Shortness of breath
Exercise intolerance
POTS is a medical diagnosis. Your GP, cardiologist or another appropriately trained medical professional will usually be involved in confirming the diagnosis and considering other possible causes of your symptoms.
What is POTS?
How can physio help with POTS & dysautonomia?
Physiotherapy plays an important role in the rehabilitation of people living with POTS and dysautonomia. Exercise rehabilitation is one of the better-supported non-pharmacological approaches for POTS, with research showing potential improvements in exercise capacity, cardiovascular function and quality of life.
Rehabilitation needs to be adapted to the individual's symptoms, physical capacity, response to exercise and other health conditions.
At The Rehab Team, we use our clinical experience to ensure an individualised, evidence-informed approach. Your assessment may include looking at your heart rate and blood pressure response to changes in position, exercise tolerance, strength, balance, fatigue and how your symptoms affect everyday activities.
Your rehabilitation may initially be completed in a seated or recumbent position, particularly when upright activity is poorly tolerated. As your tolerance improves, exercise can gradually progress towards more upright activities and the physical demands of everyday life. Education around managing symptoms, pacing activities, building strength, gradually increasing physical activity is an important part of our approach.
Not everyone with POTS should follow the same exercise programme. If POTS occurs alongside conditions such as hypermobility, Long COVID, ME/CFS or post-exertional malaise (PEM), rehabilitation may need to be modified significantly. If PEM is present, a standard graded exercise approach may not be appropriate and activity management and symptom stability may be prioritised.
If you are living with POTS or dysautonomia, The Rehab Team can help. Contact The Rehab Team today to arrange an assessment with one of our Neurological Physiotherapists in Tauranga, Papamoa or Mount Maunganui.