WHAT IS IT?
BPPV is an inner ear problem that causes sudden and short-lived attacks of vertigo (spinning or movement of the room). The episodes are typically short lived and come on with positional changes of the head.
In your inner ear, you have 3 semicircular canals that are connected via the utricle. Inside the utricle are tiny ca-carbonate crystals (Otoconia) that help the body to sense head position in space. These crystals can fall out of the gelatinous substance holding them in the utricle, and slip into the semicircular canals, the most common canal being the posterior semicircular canal1. This slippage creates the vertigo we experience.
How Does It Create the Dizziness I Experience?
Naturally, there is fluid within each semicircular canal that shifts with our head movements. This movement of fluid tells your body that you are still in equilibrium and balanced when you turn our head different directions. However, when these small crystals also occupy the canal, they create more “sloshing” of the fluid in your semicircular canals, and give you the sensation that the room around is still spinning or moving, even though y,our head movement has stopped. Hence… you feel DIZZY!
TREATMENT:
Once other potential causes of vertigo have been ruled out, such as dizziness from high blood pressure medication, the treatment is simple. The first step--make an appointment with your physical therapist!
As Doctors of Physical Therapy, we are qualified to treat your BPPV via repositioning of the slipped Otoconia. Not only is repositioning important, but so is rehabilitation to regain control with head turns and walking. We will work with you one-on-one to assure your recovery is 100%. Call Castle Pines Physical Therapy today at 303-805-5156, and take the first step to no longer feeling dizzy!