Vertigo/ Dizziness

What is Vertigo?

Vertigo is described as a spinning/swaying sensation. It is a symptom one may experience which may arise from a variety of causes. One of the most common causes is Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

BPPV is a common cause of vertigo, creating brief, intense dizziness when moving the head, often when getting up or rolling over in bed. It happens when tiny ‘crystals’ in the inner ear shift into the wrong place, sending signals to the brain that make it feel like you’re spinning, even with small head movements. People with BPPV may also feel nauseous between dizzy spells. Symptoms often come and go without a clear reason, usually affecting just one ear.

More Information

Inside the inner ear is a series of canals filled with fuid. These canals are at different angles. When the head is moved, the rolling of the fluid inside these canals tells the brain exactly how far, how fast and in what direction the head is moving.

The inner ear has fluid-filled canals at different angles that help the brain sense head movement. In BPPV, tiny calcium crystals (otoconia) from the inner ear can shift into these canals, disrupting fluid flow and balance signals. This is often due to sudden rapid head movements, injury or degeneration in the ear's balance structures, allowing these "ear rocks" to move out of place.

BPPV can be caused by:

Head injury.
Degeneration of the vestibular system in the inner ear due to increasing age.
Damage caused by an inner ear disorder.
Sudden rapid head movements (eg, rolling in bed too quickly)

However, in some cases BPPV may not be the cause of one’s dizziness/vertigo. It is important to determine the true cause of dizziness/vertigo through a Physiotherapy lead assessment which may involve a variety of questions and tests to determine the cause.

BPPV can often be effectively treated with specific exercises and manoeuvres taught by a trained Physiotherapist, which help move displaced crystals out of the ear canal to relieve dizziness. Short-term use of motion sickness medication may help control nausea. Early treatment is recommended to prevent falls or injuries, though BPPV sometimes subsides on its own. In rare, severe cases, surgery may be an option. A Physiotherapist can guide you through these treatments and provide exercises to continue at home if needed.