Benign Proxymal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Benign Proxymal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a condition where tiny particles within the inner ear, within the semi-circular canals of the vestibular system, become loose and fall into the wrong position. The vestibular system detects head movements and when these particles become dislodged a person may feel symptoms such as nausea, dizziness and vertigo as the particles move within the semi-circular canals.

These symptoms are usually short lived but can be quite distressing for the person affected. As the head moves, the person affected may feel like their head spinning, and can be often compared with the feeling of spinning on a playground roundabout or standing on a moving boat.

There is a comprehensive assessment to determine that the vertigo or dizziness is due to BPPV & then the treatment for BPPV is a technique called the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre. This involves the Physiotherapist moving the patients’ head in a comfortable way in order to move the tiny particles out of the semi-circular canals and into the inner part of the ear where they no longer cause vertigo.

The Physiotherapists at Paddington who are experienced in assessment and treatment of BPPV are Dougal Middleton, Mathew Judd & Chris Farmer. Please ask for an appointment with one of these Physios if you have BPPV.