If you feel a spinning sensation, dizziness, giddiness, fuzziness etc especially following a head movement or change in posture, it is possible you are feeling the effects of a vestibular disturbance (often called vertigo).
The vestibular apparatus is a tiny organ in the inner ear which provides feedback to your brain to help us balance. It provides around 10% of our balance capability. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo and the typical presentation is a spinning sensation lasting 30-60 seconds following head motion – looking up or down, turning the head or rolling in bed.
At The Milton Physiotherapist, David will gather your history and then perform a series of tests to determine two things – (1) it is safe to proceed with treatment; and (2) your diagnosis and treatment path. If necessary, you will be referred to your doctor or to hospital.
Treatment is performed and specific instructions supplied for the period between treatments. Manual techniques might need to be repeated to completely relieve your symptoms. In the case of BPPV, short-term therapy is usually all that is needed. For more complicated causes vestibular rehabilitation is employed occasionally over several months (statistically these programs have good outcomes).
