Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a balance disorder, disturbances in your body to remain upright and steady. It gives a feeling of dizziness that creates a sense of going out of control as if your surroundings are spinning. It is due to the disturbances in your vestibular system.
The vestibular system helps detect movements, changes in posture, and position of your head in relation to your environment. It enables you to feel what is going in your body and initiate a response to maintain balance and stability with your surroundings.
Causes
BPPV can be mild, which is considered normal caused due to sudden positional changes such as motion sickness, suddenly standing after prolonged sitting, dizziness after waking up and after spinning activities.
It can be severe when you feel dizziness and body weakness frequently even when you are not moving, unpleasant sensation in your ear, and a feeling of fainting. You may lose your body control to balance and fall.
Symptoms
- Dizziness
- Body weakness
- Disturbances in your ear
- Visual disturbances
- Lack of concentration
- Loss of control
- May limit your activities
- High risk of fall
Management
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy(VRT)
VRT are the set of exercises which help develop and strengthen the vestibular system. It includes:
- Exercises that may help you get used to with the movements that cause Your physiotherapist may help you practice those repeated and prolonged movements, which gradually helps decrease the sense of dizziness.
- Head- eye coordination and balancing exercises activate your other body senses that may help cover up the function of the inner ear in maintaining body balance.
- Eye movement exercises to improve your vision and ability to focus on surroundings while moving your head.
Your physiotherapist may also teach you relaxation exercises and safety measures to prevent falls and injuries.
Conclusion
BPPV can be depressing not being able to do activities that you like daily. The attacks of dizziness may increase stress and decrease social life. Despite that, there are many treatment options to overcome BPPV.