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It is an inner ear dysfunction that causes short-lasting (few seconds to few minutes) Vertigo or Room spinning sensation when you move your head in a gravity-dependent position such as tilting your head back or lying flat, rolling, or getting up from bed. BPPV is a vestibular disorder which can be treated by physiotherapy.
Our inner ear has two main functions which are to help you hear and keep your balance. The balance portion of the inner ear consists of three semicircular canals (posterior, anterior and horizontal) and the otolith organs. The semicircular canals filled with liquid and lined with hair cells called cilia.
When your head moves, the fluid in the semicircular canals shifts around causing cilia to move as well, sensing movement. This information is then sent and processed by the brain to help you stay balanced. These semicircular canals connected by otolith organs called the saccule and utricle which houses calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia.
BPPV happens when these “crystals” dislodged from the utricle into the semicircular canals which causes the “hair cells” in our semicircular canals to be stimulated thus producing a sudden sensation of a movement called vertigo. This sensation of vertigo typically stops once head movement stops and the “crystals” have settled down and hair cells will no longer stimulate in the semicircular canals. This takes about a few seconds to a few minutes upon cessation of head movement.
BPPV is assessed with positional testing that places you in a gravity-dependent position to produce your vertigo symptoms.
The most common cause of BPPV is idiopathic. However, as one age, degenerative changes can be a potential cause of BPPV. Head injuries can also often result in multiple canals affecting, leading to BPPV. Based on a large cohort study of 1599 patients (Chua et al, 2020) factors that cause BPPV to include:
Vestibular Physiotherapy treatment is an effective way to resolve disorders like BPPV. Medications may only reduce the symptoms of nausea and vomiting but it is not effective in treating the root cause. Physiotherapy treatment includes repositioning manoeuvres to relieve the symptoms of BPPV. Your head will placed in different movements and angles to move the otoconia from your semicircular canals back into your otolith organs.
If you experience symptoms that are severe and persist, we would advise seeking a vestibular physiotherapist for review. Book an appointment with our team of physiotherapists to get assessed.
Our team is experienced in treating most cases related to the neurological or vestibular system such as the ones below. Other conditions we can see include Cranial traumas, Brain tumours, Vestibular neuronitis and more.
For Stroke Patients, the focus will be on improving mobility, function, and independence through gait training, functional rehabilitation, and motor relearning techniques. Physiotherapists also address balance, coordination, and spasticity management while providing education and support to stroke survivors and their caregivers.
Vestibular Physiotherapy treatment is an effective way to resolve disorders like BPPV. Medications may only reduce the symptoms of nausea and vomiting, but they are not effective in treating the root cause. Physiotherapy treatment includes repositioning manoeuvres to relieve the symptoms of BPPV. Your head will be placed at different movements and angles to move the otoconia from your semicircular canals back into the otolith organs in your ear.
Physiotherapists begin treatment by evaluating their clients’ physical capabilities, establishing rehabilitation goals, and crafting individualised exercise plans. They emphasise improving mobility, balance, fall prevention, and gait retraining. Through personalised interventions and continuous support, physiotherapists assist Parkinson’s disease clients in maximising their physical potential and sustaining independence in everyday activities.
