Feeling Dizzy? How Physiotherapy Can Help with Vertigo and BPPV

Vertigo

Did you know that one of the most common causes of dizziness of vertigo can be treated by your local specialized physiotherapist?

For those who have experienced vertigo before you will know that it can be completely debilitating. Symptoms often appear suddenly with little warning and cans leave you in bed feeling like the world has tipped upside down, bed ridden with your head in a bucket.

But what exactly causes it?

Dizziness can be caused by many factors, including head injury, stroke, age and nerve inflammation. However one of the more common causes is Benign Parozxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

What is BPPV?

BPPV is a problem of the inner eat that affects the vestibular system. Within the inner ear is an intricate system of semicircular canals.

Normally the canals contain fluid and crystals known at otoconia. It is these structures that send the messages to your brain that your head is moving in space and which direction and how fast is moving.

Some people will have a very practices vestibular system such as gymnast and Olympic divers!

BPPV can occur spontaneously or after a head knock. Anatomically what occurs is the small crystal in the inner year become dislodged and begin to send the wrong message to the brain.

What does BPPV feel like?

The most common complaint of BPPV is the feeling of the room spinning when changing position such as turning over in bed or looking over your shoulder. It can even occur during exercise classes or pilates when looking up during a particular exercise. This sensation will be short in duration, a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Secondary symptoms include vision changes, nausea, unsteadiness and loss of balance.

Who gets BPPV?

BPPV is extremely common. Generally seen more in middle aged or the elderly, and women more commonly with a 3:1 ratio.

The unfortunate thing about BPPV is a very high recurrence rate. One year following an initial about of BPPV the recurrence rate is 15% and at 5 years it rises up to 50%. So, although it can clear relatively quickly with the correct treatment it is important to get follow-up to assess for any weakness in the vestibular system that your physiotherapist may be able to help with.

What do I do?!

BPPV is not the only condition that can cause vertigo so it is important to be assessed thoroughly by your physiotherapist. Assessment for BPPV involves moving your head in certain directions that can potential cause some dizziness.
This will help provide a correct diagnosis so that the correct treatment can be performed. Following treatment are often follow up exercises that will help settle or potentially strengthen the vestibular system.

If you believe you may be suffering from BPPV or another cause of dizziness please come and chat with Ellie, here at Refresh Physio.
She has a special interest in all things dizziness and would love to help you.