You might experience dizziness or a sensation of spinning when you're sick with a head cold, have an ear infection or are taking certain types of medication. A condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, can be frustrating and stressful for those who can't switch body positions or even lie down without feeling sensations of vertigo. Some exercises might help reduce the severity of the condition and reduce symptoms such as nausea.
Definition
BPPV is a medical term for extreme sensations of dizziness or spinning sensations when you're in a certain position. If you experience dizziness or disorientation from sitting to standing, changing positions while lying down, or when sensations of spinning worsen when lying down, you might be experiencing BPPV.
Cause
The cause of BPPV is believed to be foreign deposits of substances in the inner ear, where the balance mechanism for the body in regard to posture, position and orientation is located. The non-medical term for these deposits is "ear rocks," actually thought to be small bits or clusters of calcium, often resulting from head trauma or injury. Chances of being diagnosed with BPPV increase with age, with symptoms including lightheadedness, nausea, difficulty balancing and extreme dizziness.
Semont Maneuver
This exercise, also called the liberatory maneuver, can help reduce symptoms of BPPV by roughly 90 percent, according to website Disabled World. Seated in a reclined position, your doctor shifts your head in a 45-degree angle toward your unaffected side. You'll then be shifted further onto your side to about a 105-degree angle, head down and nose facing the ceiling. You'll be asked to remain in this position for two to three minutes. You'll then be quickly returned to an upright seated position, then turned onto your side, this time with your nose pointed toward the ground, where you'll remain for another two to three minutes. This allows the calcium deposits to shift into the outer ear canal.
Brandt-Daroff Exercise
The Brandt-Daroff exercise might be done in home environments if the Semont maneuver doesn't prove entirely effective or you experience occasional bouts of vertigo caused by additional calcium deposits. Don't self-diagnose, but seek the advice of your physician if this occurs. Remain in each position for approximately 30 seconds. You can repeat this sequence of exercises throughout the day. Sit on the edge of your bed, back straight. Then lie on your right side, face pointed upward toward the ceiling. Return to a seated position, then lie down on the bed in the opposite direction, on your left shoulder, face pointed toward the ceiling. Repeat this exercise several times a day for two to three weeks, though you may experience relief within 10 days.
