Vertigo, Inner Ear & Dizziness

Vestibular Rehabilitation (Dizziness and Vertigo)

Vertigo, Inner Ear & Dizziness

Vestibular Rehabilitation’ is an area of focus in my physiotherapy practise – I am often asked what exactly that means. The vestibular system (involving your inner ear) is responsible for sense of movement, body orientation and balance. The vestibular system (along with our eyes, muscles, and joints) send constant feedback to our brain about our body’s movement and orientation.

Dysfunctions, disorders, trauma or viruses that affect the inner ear can be a potential cause of vertigo, dizziness, decreased balance, tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or a change in hearing. As a vestibular therapist I can assess the potential causes of the mentioned symptoms and provide treatment to help decrease dizziness, vertigo and improve balance.

Dizziness is the umbrella term that refers to a sensation of abnormal, unwanted, movement – a feeling of unsteadiness, lightheaded or feeling ‘off’. Vertigo is a more specific term and implies that there is a rotational component to your dizziness – either the room is spinning around you or you are spinning in the room. Both vertigo and dizziness are symptoms, not a diagnosis, so part of my job is to figure out the possible cause and provide treatment.

One of the most common conditions within the inner ear that I treat is a condition called BPPV – benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. BPPV is caused by a crystal that is free floating within the inner ear. The signs and symptoms are pretty easy to recognize (vertigo brought on when lying flat, rolling in bed, looking up to the ceiling or bending forward). Treatment for BPPV is also quite effective.

It is also important to recognize that not all causes of vertigo or dizziness are associated with problems in the inner ear. Cardiovascular (heart) disorders, thyroid conditions, anxiety, migraines, neck disorders/injuries and neurological conditions are all potential causes.

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Sun City Physiotherapy Locations

Robina Palmer, B.Sc.PT, CAFCI, Vestibular Therapist

Robina Palmer is a registered Physiotherapist and co-owner of Sun City Physiotherapy.

Robina is a graduate of University of British Columbia’s School of Rehabilitation Medicine. She has practiced in sports and orthopaedic rehabilitation in various clinical settings throughout the United States and Canada.

suncityphysiotherapy.com/our-team/the-downtown-kelowna-team/robina-palmer/

Vertigo & Dizziness

Vestibular Rehabilitation (Dizziness and Vertigo)

Vertigo & Dizziness

It is the weirdest feeling. You get dizzy bending forward or looking up to the ceiling, lying down, getting up in the morning, or even rolling over in bed. It’s like the room is spinning and it makes you feel sick. If you experience this, you may be suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

It is estimated that one in every five people will develop vertigo in their lifetime. The most common cause of vertigo is a condition in the inner ear known as Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. BPPV occurs when there is ‘debris’, or more specifically, a calcium carbonate crystal, which has been displaced within the inner ear. The presence of this displaced crystal within the inner ear can disturb one’s balance and equilibrium, and sense of motion.

These crystals are naturally occurring in the inner ear, attached to a specific structure, and not ‘free floating’. There are multiple causes for the crystals to be displaced but, more often than not, it tends to be spontaneous. Other causes can include trauma (fall, hit to the head, whiplash), high dose antibiotics, age, and extreme changes in barometric pressure.

Most of my patients with BPPV report dizziness with certain positions. Most commonly, it is lying flat in bed, rolling over in bed, getting up in the morning, looking up to the ceiling, and bending forward.

Treatment for BPPV is very effective. It consists of ‘repositioning’ the crystal in the inner ear. This is done through a series of head and body positions, which will move the crystals away from the sensitive hair cells within the inner ear.

Although BPPV accounts for a large percentage of vertigo, it is not the only cause. Talk to your doctor or physiotherapist certified in vestibular rehabilitation if you have these symptoms, or think you may have BPPV.