Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, is an inner ear condition that causes vertigo. Some cases of BPPV do not have a known cause, while others begin after you suffer from head trauma or damage to your inner ear. Most BPPV treatments begin with a form of physical therapy designed to correct the underlying problem in your ear. This therapy involves a series of movements that you can perform in the doctor's office or in your home.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo
BPPV is an inner ear condition that causes mild to intense dizziness and vertigo. Although the cause is not always determined, it stems from a problem in your ear's balance center. It is commonly believed that BPPV results when structures within your ear called otoliths become dislodged and travel into your ear's semicircular canals. This alters the flow of inner ear fluid and stimulates your ear's hair cells in a way that leads to vertigo.
Risk Factors
The onset of BPPV is most often linked to head trauma. In some cases, it occurs after you undergo ear surgery or suffer from health problems that damage your inner ear. The condition is more common in women and in people over the age of 40. Age-related degeneration is sometimes the diagnosed cause, but the majority of BPPV cases are not associated with a specific cause.
Therapy
Once you are diagnosed with BPPV, you will likely begin treatment using a form of physical therapy called canalith repositioning. This involves a series of 30-second maneuvers that are designed to move the dislodged otoliths into a section of your ear called the vestibule. Once the otoliths are here, they do not cause vertigo and may be reabsorbed into your system. The first time you perform canalith repositioning maneuvers, you will be kept under supervision in your doctor's office and have to avoid lying flat until the next day. Once you learn the maneuvers, you can perform them at home.
Maneuvers
There are different types of canalith repositioning maneuvers that you can do at home. The Semont maneuver involves quickly changing your position from lying on one side of your body to lying on the other side. The Epley maneuver consists of gradual movements between four head positions, each lasting for 30 seconds. Brant-Daroff maneuvers are done three times per day for two weeks. Each set involves five repetitions of lying on your left and right sides.
References
- Encyclopedia.com: Benign Positional Vertigo
- MayoClinic.com: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- "Canadian Family Physician"; Canalith Repositioning for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo; Juan Munoz, et al.; June 2007
- Crofton & Sharlston Medical Practice: Brandt-Daroff Exercises
