Richard Bader Physical Therapy

Clinics in:

Norway 743 - 5493
Bridgton 647 - 5493
Poland 998 - 5493

Vertigo

People with vertigo (a form of dizziness) often state that they feel as though they are spinning, or that their head is spinning inside, or that the environment is moving or spinning even when they are completely still. In addition, people with vertigo report that moving the head, changing position, leaning forward, or turning over in bed causes symptoms to occur. They may also feel as though their balance is decreased.

Vertigo may occur as a result of dysfunction in the vestibular system (structures in the inner ear). This system is responsible for providing the brain about changes in head position and is very important for balance and equilibrium. Within the vestibular system, there are tiny calcium crystals that are normally attached to hair cells on the membranes of a structure called the utricle. When the head changes position, the crystals cause the hair cells to tilt and this tells the brain about the position of the head. In the inner ear, there are also three semicircular canals that contain fluid and hair cells that also inform the brain that there has been a change in the head position of a person. If the crystals from the utricle become dislodged they can enter one of the three semicircular canals and can bounce around in the hair cells and cause confusing information that a person’s head is still moving even after movement has stopped. This is thought to be the cause of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). After seeing a Doctor to rule out other causes for the dizziness, physicians often send people to a physical therapist who has special training in the treatment of vertigo. The physical therapist may perform a maneuver that causes the crystals to move out of the canals, as well as instruct exercises to decrease the vertigo.