Dizziness and Vertigo – BPPV

Sore necks, headaches and dizziness are often symptoms that physiotherapists deal with on a daily basis, but something that is often mis-diagnosed and discounted is vertigo. Vertigo is that sensation when you are still, but the room is spinning around you. This could be related to what is called BPPV or positional vertigo. Often not understood by a lot of the general population is that physiotherapy can help with these symptoms.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) or commonly known as positional vertigo is an onset of symptoms in conjunction with head movement or position. Vertigo occurs when the crystals in your inner ear (otoconia) become dislodged or disrupted and can therefore interfere with your vestibular system (balance). 

In over 50% of cases, BPPV can occur without any particular trauma or incidence. Other things that could cause it are head or ear trauma, ear surgery or infection and degeneration in the structures of the ear. 

So how can physiotherapy help?

On assessment, our physiotherapists will be able to diagnose which positions are effective at reproducing vertigo symptoms and also which ear is causing these symptoms. Through a series of different head and positional movements the aim of physiotherapy is to help relocate the crystals in the ear back to their appropriate location. This is to help prevent vertigo symptoms with head movements that were previously causing symptoms.

Positional vertigo is something that can come and go so it is important to be seen by out physio’s when symptoms arise for best results. After our treatments, it is important to follow certain exercises and instructions to help with symptoms to not return.

If you feel like you are suffering with positional vertigo, call us on 8212 4886 and book an appointment to see one of our physio staff.

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