BPPV is a common cause of vertigo (sense of spinning). Approximately 1 in 40 will have BPPV at some point in their lives, with women experiencing BPPV more commonly than men. Typically, people will complain of a brief spin when lying down and sitting up, rolling in bed or looking overhead. Luckily, it’s usually easy to treat.

 
 
inner ear anatomy_graphic only.jpg

BPPV stands for:

Benign (not going to kill you – fabulous!)
Paroxysmal (has an on/off quality to it)
Positional (only with certain head positions)
Vertigo (the spin!)

It occurs when crystals (also known as otoconia) fall off the utricle (one of the gravity-sensing organs in the inner ear) and into one of the canals, usually the posterior canal. These fluid-filled canals are responsible for detecting which way your head moves – when your head moves to the left, the fluid in the canal will move and tell your brain which way your head is moving. When these crystals are in the canal, they bounce around the canal giving you a sensation of spinning.

While we aren’t sure what causes BPPV, it has been linked to:

  • Age - the older you are, the more likely you are to suffer from BPPV

  • Osteopenia/osteoporosis - the crystals in the inner ear are made of calcium, just like your bones. Research has linked osteopenia and osteoporosis with a significant increased risk of developing BPPV

  • Vitamin D - while this research is still in its infancy, it seems a lack of Vitamin D may contribute to developing BPPV

  • Head hits or injuries - either from a car accident, fall from a height, repeatedly heading a soccer ball or suffering a concussion, a physical knock to the head has been shown to dislodge crystals in the inner ear

  • Ear infections and inner ear disorders/conditions

In the clinic, we first put you through a few tests to figure out which canal has these rogue crystals in them. We then do the appropriate treatment which involves a series of gentle head movements and body rolls to get the crystals back where they belong. The most common way to do this is the Epley Maneuver but another maneuver may be needed.

Stephanie Yip, Chantal Simak and Devon Konrad treat people with vestibular disorders.

Resources

While there are several sources for up to date and evidence based information on BPPV, these two organizations are trusted and reliable resources:

Ladner Village Physiotherapy exists in what is colonially known as Delta, on the traditional, occupied and unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ speaking people. As health care providers, we actively strive to understand the role of intergenerational trauma and health inequities applied through systemic and institutionalized racism with the goal of providing equitable and person-centred health care for all.