BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

BPPV episodes are typically brief (usually less than a minute) and brought on by specific head movements. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Spinning vertigo with head movement: A sudden sensation that the room is spinning when you tilt your head, look up/down, or roll over in bed.
• Dizziness and lightheadedness: Feeling woozy or unsteady, especially after a quick head turn.
• Loss of balance: Difficulty staying upright or walking straight, particularly right after an episode.
• Nausea or vomiting: Motion sickness-like symptoms during severe vertigo spells.
• Anxiety about moving: Fear of provoking symptoms can lead to tense neck/shoulder muscles and holding the head very still.

Even though each vertigo episode of BPPV is short, the impact on daily life can be significant. Left untreated, BPPV can:

• Make everyday activities daunting: Simple tasks like getting out of bed, picking items off the floor, or looking up to a high shelf can trigger spins, causing you to avoid or dread these movements.
• Increase fall risk: Sudden vertigo can throw you off balance. This is especially dangerous for older people, potentially leading to falls and injuries.
• Cause anxiety and loss of confidence: The unpredictable nature of BPPV episodes may lead to constant worry about when the next spin will happen. This anxiety can reduce your confidence in driving, exercising, or socializing.
• Reduce quality of life: You might skip enjoyable activities (like yoga, swimming, or sports) for fear of dizziness. In severe cases, BPPV can interfere with work if your job involves head movements or heights.

The good news is that BPPV is very treatable. You don’t have to live at the mercy of random vertigo – Peak Sports and Spine Centre is here to help you get back to a steady, confident life.

Our team at Peak Sports and Spine Centre are experts in vestibular physiotherapy, and physiotherapy for BPPV is often remarkably effective. We will start by performing a thorough assessment, including special tests like the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, to confirm BPPV and identify which ear and which canal are affected. Once diagnosed, treatment is usually quick and painless:

• Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers: Our trained physiotherapists will guide you through proven techniques such as the Epley maneuver to move the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canals. This procedure often provides immediate relief – many patients walk out free of vertigo after just one session.
• Education and Home Exercises: We celebrate each patient’s progress and empower you with knowledge. You’ll learn what movements to temporarily avoid right after treatment and exercises (like Brandt-Daroff habituation exercises) to perform at home if needed, ensuring those crystals stay put.
• Advanced Diagnostic Tools: As a leading vestibular rehabilitation clinic, we use advanced technology to aid diagnosis and treatment. For example, we may use Frenzel goggles (special infrared glasses) to observe your eye movements (nystagmus) during positional tests. This helps confirm the BPPV diagnosis and track improvement with precision.
• Preventing Recurrences: BPPV can recur in some people. Our physiotherapists will equip you with balance exercises and vestibular rehabilitation techniques to strengthen your equilibrium. By improving your overall vestibular function and balance, we reduce the odds of future vertigo episodes.
• Holistic Care and Reassurance: We understand that BPPV can be scary. Our team provides calm, confident care – explaining each step of treatment, reassuring you throughout any vertigo provocation, and celebrating the moment you realize the spinning has stopped. We’ll also advise you on lifestyle tweaks (like how to modify bedtime routines or head positions) to keep you symptom-free.

By choosing Peak Sports and Spine Centre, you’re selecting a trusted authority in dizziness treatment. Our physiotherapists have successfully treated countless cases of BPPV, helping people just like you quickly regain their balance and freedom.

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