🔍 What is Vertigo?

Have you or someone you know ever been diagnosed with vertigo?

Vertigo is a general term used to describe the sensation of dizziness, but it’s more than just feeling lightheaded — it's often described as a spinning sensation, as if the room is moving around you. There are many causes of dizziness, but one of the most common is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV.

🌀 What is BPPV?

BPPV is characterized by brief episodes of dizziness triggered by specific head movements. These episodes can come on suddenly and may or may not be related to a specific incident. Common triggers include:

• Rolling over in bed

• Lying down or sitting up

• Looking up or bending over

Symptoms may include:

• A spinning sensation (often described as "room spinning")

• Nausea or vomiting

• Unsteadiness or imbalance

Possible causes:

• Head trauma

• Inner ear infections

• Reduced blood flow (ischemia) to the anterior vestibular artery

👂 Understanding the Inner Ear

The root of BPPV lies in the inner ear, specifically within structures called the semicircular canals — three in each ear (anterior, posterior, and horizontal), positioned at 90° angles to each other. These canals are filled with fluid and tiny hair cells that detect movement and help your brain determine your body’s position in space.

At the base of these canals is a small cavity called the utricle, which contains a gel-like substance and a layer of calcium crystals (otoconia). Sometimes, these crystals become dislodged and move into one of the semicircular canals. When this happens, it interferes with the movement of fluid in the canal and sends incorrect signals to the brain, resulting in that tell-tale spinning sensation of vertigo.

✅ How Physical Therapy Can Help

The good news? BPPV is highly treatable!

There are specific, gentle movements and maneuvers — such as the Epley maneuver — that trained physical therapists can perform to guide the displaced crystals back into the utricle, where they belong. Once repositioned, the body can reabsorb the crystals naturally, providing fast relief — sometimes in just one session.

📞 Don’t Live with Dizziness

If any of this sounds familiar to you or someone you know, we’re here to help. You don’t need a prescription from your doctor to start treatment. Schedule an evaluation today — and take the first step toward feeling steady again.
We’ll communicate with your physician as needed.

Don’t let vertigo disrupt your life. Physical therapy can help! Call us - 262-236-0176