Are You Dizzy?

Do you have bouts of dizziness?  Does it occur when you go to lie down, roll over in bed, or look up at something?

You may have a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).  BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo.  It is characterized by brief episodes of mild to intense dizziness that can last from a few seconds to a few minutes.  These bouts are triggered by specific changes in the position of your head

BPPV is due to a disturbance within the inner ear.  The inner ear has three semicircular canals (pictured in pink above) filled with fluid.  Movement of your head causes the fluid to shift and it is this shift of fluid that your brain detects and then interprets as your head’s position and movement in space.  Occasionally, a small calcium crystal called an otolith breaks free and migrates within the semicircular canal.  This free floating otolith can alter the detection of fluid shifts and, therefore, the brain’s interpretation of position and movement.  If the input from your inner ear is altered and does not match the input from your eyes or other joints in your body, then a sensation of dizziness results.

Treatment for BPPV is very quick and effective.  Physical therapists at Evolve Physical Therapy + Advanced Wellness can perform a procedure called “Eply’s Maneuver” that will move the otolith back to its point of origin.  With this maneuver, symptoms should immediately improve. 

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