Dizziness:  How Physical Therapy Can Help

by Leslie Bene', MPT

Many of you associate physical therapy with the treatment of injuries and pain.  As a physical therapist of over 10 years with specialized training in vestibular rehabilitation,  I have come to realize how few people know that we also treat dizziness.  

Dizziness can have many causes.  One of the lesser known is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).  It is a condition that affects the vestibular system or inner ear.  In the simplest of terms, BPPV results when receptors within the inner ear become displaced and send abnormal signals to the brain in regards to the body's position in space.

Although dizziness is the most common symptom of BPPV, a sense of spinning, lightheadedness, imbalance, and nausea may also be felt.  Symptoms may be intermittent and vary in intensity.  However, they are almost always aggravated by a change in position of the head relative to gravity such as with rolling over in bed or tipping the head back to look up.   Sometimes, symptoms will be present for days or weeks and then resolve spontaneously for a time before returning.

BPPV can affect anyone but is more common as we age.  Many cases occur for no known reason.  However, head trauma, whiplash, and migraines have been cited as causes for the disorder.

If you are experiencing symptoms that you believe may be due to BPPV, a trip downstairs to Denver Physical Therapy is worth your time.  We will start with a comprehensive, thorough evaluation.  If BPPV is determined to be the problem, treatment consists of guided movements of your head relative to gravity known as repositioning maneuvers.  You will be instructed in post-treatment precautions and given a home exercise regimen to further the effectiveness of the treatment.  Generally, resolution of BPPV can be achieved in a single visit.  However, we will schedule you for a follow-up visit within a week to ensure 
full recovery.  

To schedule an appointment at Denver Physical Therapy, you can simply swing by our office located on the lower level of the DAC.  Appointments can also be made by calling 303-628-0871 or going to denverphysicaltherapy.com