Dizziness and vertigo (BPV) treatment
There are many causes of dizziness and vertigo, most are medical related eg; medication side effects, vestibular pathology, and are beyond the scope of this article.
We will concentrate on Benign Positional Vertigo or BPV, which is a common acute condition that causes dizziness and vertigo.
What you need to know about dizziness and vertigo (BPV):
BPV is a feeling of vertigo (spinning around) when changing the position of your head. For example, it can happen while turning in bed, looking up at the sky, and even turning your head while driving. It is a condition of the inner ear, which is responsible for our balance.
The inner ear senses our position by the motion of fluid moving, sending signals to the brain. They flow through canals, which contain also contain calcium carbonate crystals. Occasionally the crystals flow into a different part of the inner ear, which can disrupt the feeling of balance.
Common signs and symptoms of BPV may include:
- Dizziness lasting between 10-30 seconds(can have a latent effect).
- Nausea and giddiness.
- Neck and shoulder soreness secondary to the dizziness.
- Nystagmus (uncontrolled twitching or beating of the eye) with provocative movements .
- If your symptoms also include numbness, pins and needles, weakness or blurry vision, seek medical attention from your GP immediately.
Common causes of symptoms of BPV include:
- Turning over in bed or sitting up from a lying position.
- Tilting head up quickly.
Treatment for BPV:
Physiotherapy to help with assessment and treatment of your vertigo:
- Gentle treatment techniques that can aid in moving the stuck crystals out of the way.
- Physio neck joint mobilisation and soft tissue release for any related neck and shoulder symptoms.
Self management for dizziness and vertigo (BPV):
- Avoiding movements which provoke your vertigo.
- Performing exercises your physiotherapist has shown you to do at home.
