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What is BPPV?
BPPV is a common cause of dizziness which occurs in people of all ages.
It causes short bursts of intense dizziness when the body or head are placed in certain positions such as lying on one side in bed or looking upwards.
People can feel sick and are sometimes unsteady for a few hours after the dizziness has subsided.
Classifications include:
Benign – not life threatening
Paroxysmal – sudden, brief episodes
Positional – triggered by changes in head position
Vertigo – a spinning sensation
What causes BPPV?
BPPV is caused when crystals that line the inner ear break free and move into an area of the ear where they should not be, the semi-circular canals.
These crystals then send extra messages to the brain, which confuses the brain and causes dizziness.
BPPV can happen with age, trauma, following infection or for no apparent reason.
Diagnosis
Your description of your symptoms is the first step in diagnosing BPPV.
To confirm your diagnosis, there are also tests where we observe your eyes during specific movements.
These tests help us to determine if you have BPPV in one or both ears and in which semi-circular canals the crystals are.
Treatment
BPPV can be resolved with repositioning manoeuvres such as the Epley manoeuvre, which guide the crystals back to their original location in your inner ear.
They have high success rates but sometimes the treatment needs to be repeated a few times. You may be given general balance exercises to do once the BPPV is resolved.
We provide rehabilitation to alleviate problems caused by BPPV such as vertigo, dizziness, imbalance and falls.
Following a comprehensive assessment by our specialist vestibular physiotherapist Allison Cooper, a customised treatment plan will be provided, which will include elements of habituation, gaze stability and balance training.
We also provide repositioning manoeuvres, including the Epley manoeuvre, for patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
