PT Works

Community Care Physicians

Physical Therapy

Vertigo and Physical Therapy

August 2007

Offices are conveniently located in Clifton Park, Delmar, Latham, and Schodack.

  Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common form of vertigo.  It is characterized by brief episodes of intense dizziness associated with a change in the position of your head.  This may occur when you move your head from side to side, rise from lying down, bend over, move from an upright position to lying down, or when looking up.  Although BPPV can be aggravating, it is rarely a serious problem.  You can receive effective treatment for BPPV in physical therapy.

  The balance organ, located in the inner ear, is the vestibular labyrinth.  BPPV occurs when small particles within the labyrinth loosen and float in the fluid.  These particles cause false signals of movement causing a sensation of spinning.

  To help relieve BPPV, patients may be referred to physical therapy.  A series of movements may be performed to reposition the particles to an area where they do not cause trouble.  After performing these movements, you must avoid lying flat for 24-48 hours to allow the particles to be reabsorbed by your body.  There is a high success rate for this procedure, upwards of 90%.  Patients will also be instructed in a home exercise program for continued management of BPPV.

Signs and symptoms of BPPV include:

· Dizziness

· A sense that you or your surroundings are spinning (vertigo)

· Lightheadedness

· Loss of balance or unsteadiness

· Blurred vision associated with quick head movements

· Nausea

· Vomiting

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