Rolled over in bed, or bent over to tie your shoe, and wonder if you’ve just stepped off a Gravitron?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) may be the culprit.
A condition of the inner ear affecting the Vestibular System, it is one of the most common causes of short spinning spells.
The Vestibular System can be likened to a ‘level’ for the body, gauging spatial awareness with every tilt or movement of the head, all from tiny crystals within the inner ear.
Acting like the air bubble in a level, these crystals, in combination with our vision, signal to the brain the position of the body related to space and time.
If these crystals become loose and float from the inner ear to the balance canals, moving the head in certain ways results in a mismatch in signalling to the brain, triggering brief vertigo.
Key signs:
- An intense spinning or whirling feeling from simply rolling over in bed, lying down, sitting up, looking up, or bending forward.
- Each episode lasts only seconds to under a minute and stops when you hold still.
- An episode causes nausea and vomiting, but you mostly feel fine between attacks.
- While you may feel a little off-balance between attacks, there is no related hearing loss, ringing in the ears, severe headache, or double vision.
If these match to what you’re experiencing, BPPV may be the culprit.
While common and treatable, BPPV should be confirmed by a physiotherapist or doctor.
In most cases there is no need for complex tests or scans, instead our highly skilled physios trained in vestibular care can assess you in clinic using a simple test to check eye movement and rule out other conditions that may cause vertigo.
How does physiotherapy help?
The physiotherapist performs a series of quick but painless head movements, known as the Epley manoeuvre, gently repositioning the dislodged crystals within the inner ear.
Often clearing quickly once properly identified and treated, many report feeling much better after one or two in-clinic treatments, while continuing at home to follow the physio prescribed gentle exercises and movements to reduce the risk of a fall.
If you’ve been experiencing similar symptoms, get in touch with our clinic today – relief is often just a few simple movements away!
To find out more call Tamborine Mountain Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic on 5545 0500.
