Vertigo / BPPV
Vertigo is the sensation that the room is spinning, often with nausea. BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), the most common cause of vertigo tied to head movement, happens when tiny crystals in the inner ear come loose. A physical therapist is trained to perform maneuvers and prescribe exercises for it. East Mountain Physical Therapy treats vertigo in Cedar Crest, Edgewood, Tijeras and Moriarty.
Vertigo and BPPV in plain language
Dizzy is a broad word. Vertigo is a spinning feeling, and it has its own causes.
What BPPV is
Calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear become dislodged. When your head moves into certain positions, they shift and create the sensation of spinning. BPPV can follow an injury, an infection, age, or arise for no known reason.
Typical triggers
Rolling over in bed, lying back, looking up at a shelf or bending down. The spell usually lasts under a minute.
Dizzy, but not spinning
A constant unsteady feeling is a different pattern, so tell your therapist which one you have.
How vertigo is checked and treated
Test the head positions
Your therapist moves your head into specific positions and watches your eyes for the telltale movement. This is how BPPV is confirmed and which ear is involved.
A repositioning maneuver
A short series of head and body movements guides the crystals back to where they belong. Many people feel better soon after.
Home exercises
A few movements to practice at home, and what to expect in the days after.
When it is not BPPV
If testing points elsewhere, we say so and look at the other causes of imbalance, such as the aftermath of a head injury.
Go to the emergency room if vertigo comes with
- slurred speech or a drooping face
- weakness in an arm or leg
- double vision
- a sudden, severe headache
Vertigo / BPPV care in the East Mountains
We see patients from Cedar Crest, Edgewood, Tijeras, Moriarty and the East Mountains.