Get Back to Moving Normally Without the Spinning Sensation
Vertigo can make it feel as though you or your surroundings are moving even when you are still. Rolling over in bed, looking up, bending down, or turning your head may suddenly trigger spinning. If vertigo is interfering with your daily life in West Valley City, Tooele in Northpointe, Tooele on Main Street and Grantsville, UT, physical therapy at Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy can help determine what may be causing your symptoms and whether specialized treatment can help.
Our physical therapists use clinical expertise and specialized vestibular testing to identify problems that can respond to physical therapy. One common cause of vertigo we assess and treat is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, commonly called BPPV.
Understanding Vertigo
Dizziness is a broad term that describes sensations of unsteadiness or lightheadedness. Vertigo specifically describes a false sensation of movement. You may feel as though you are spinning, tilting, moving, or that the room is moving around you.
Vertigo can occur with several vestibular conditions. One common cause is BPPV.
Common triggers may include:
- Rolling over in bed
- Lying down or sitting up
- Looking upward
- Bending forward
- Turning your head
- Getting in or out of bed
BPPV occurs when tiny crystals in the inner ear become displaced and move into an area where they interfere with the normal sensing of head movement. This can create movement signals that do not match what your other senses are detecting and trigger brief episodes of vertigo with certain changes in head position.
Not every case of vertigo is BPPV. Determining the pattern and cause of your symptoms is an important part of finding the right treatment.
How Vertigo Can Affect Daily Life
Even brief episodes of vertigo can interfere with ordinary activities.
Our goal is to find out why the vertigo is happening rather than simply having you avoid movements that trigger it.
You may have difficulty:
- Rolling over or changing positions in bed
- Getting up from bed
- Looking into a high cabinet
- Bending down to pick something up
- Washing or styling your hair
- Exercising
- Walking during or after an episode
- Performing work that requires frequent head movement
- Completing household activities
- Moving confidently because you are unsure when symptoms will occur
Specialized Testing Helps Determine What Is Causing Your Vertigo
Your physical therapist starts by asking detailed questions about what your vertigo feels like, when it occurs, how long it lasts, and which movements trigger it.
If your symptoms suggest BPPV, specific positional tests can help determine whether changes in head position trigger characteristic vertigo and eye movements.
Your evaluation may include:
- Positional testing for BPPV
- Eye movement testing
- Head movement testing
- Balance assessment
- Walking assessment
- Other vestibular tests when appropriate
These findings can help identify whether BPPV is present and which part of the inner ear may be involved. If your symptoms suggest another vestibular condition or a problem requiring medical evaluation, your physical therapist can help determine the appropriate next step.
Treatment Based on the Cause of Your Vertigo
Treatment depends on what your evaluation shows.
When testing identifies BPPV, your physical therapist may use a specific repositioning maneuver. These maneuvers use a sequence of head and body positions to move displaced particles out of the affected part of the inner ear.
The appropriate maneuver depends on the findings during your assessment. This is why specialized testing is important.
Depending on your condition, additional treatment may include:
- Balance exercises when unsteadiness remains
- Vestibular exercises for other identified vestibular problems
- Gaze stabilization exercises when appropriate
- Walking activities when balance has been affected
- Functional training for movements or activities that remain difficult
- Education about your condition and what to expect
- Home exercises when indicated by your findings
Your physical therapist reassesses your symptoms and adjusts treatment based on your response.
Getting Back to Normal Movement After Vertigo
Vertigo may make you cautious about movements that have triggered spinning in the past.
Treatment is focused on helping you return to the movements and activities that have become difficult. That may include rolling over in bed, looking up, bending down, exercising, working, or moving around your home and community.
Your physical therapist will progress your treatment based on the cause of your vertigo and how you respond.
Specialized Expertise with a Personal Approach
At Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy, our physical therapists understand that vertigo requires more than a general balance program.
We use specialized testing to determine whether BPPV or another vestibular problem that responds to rehabilitation may be causing your symptoms. We explain what we find, what treatment is appropriate, and why it is being prescribed.
If your symptoms indicate that additional medical evaluation is needed, we will help you determine the appropriate next step.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find the Right Treatment for Your Vertigo
You do not have to simply avoid rolling over, looking up, bending down, or other movements because they may trigger another episode.
Contact Meier & Marsh Physical Therapy today to schedule a vertigo evaluation in West Valley City, Tooele in Northpointe, Tooele on Main Street or Grantsville, UT. Our physical therapists can perform specialized testing, determine whether your symptoms may respond to vestibular treatment, and help you get back to normal movement.
Your Next Steps…
- Request An Appointment
- Receive A Custom Treatment Plan
- Work Hard and Progress In Your Recovery
- Recover & Enjoy Life Pain-Free
