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Vertigo, BPPV and the Vestibular System

Vertigo, BPPV and the Vestibular System

Do you find yourself losing your balance, feeling dizzy or nauseous? You may be experiencing vertigo caused by issues with your vestibular system. You would also benefit from a targeted assessment to determine the causes of your symptoms using specific techniques and exercises to improve symptoms and get you feeling back to normal. 

The Vestibular System is found inside your inner ear and sends signals primarily to your brain stem. It is responsible for integrating sensory stimuli and movement and for keeping objects in visual focus as the body moves.

Issues With Your Vestibular System Can Cause Symptoms Such As:

  • Dizziness
  • Spinning sensation
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Lightheadedness
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Double vision
  • Impaired balance

Vertigo and dizziness are symptoms rather than a disease. Vertigo refers to the sensation of spinning or whirling that occurs due to a disturbance in your balance system. In addition, vertigo is used to describe feelings of dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness, and unsteadiness. Vertigo usually occurs because of a disorder in the vestibular system. The vestibular system is the structures of the inner ear, vestibular nerve, brainstem, and cerebellum. 

The Vestibular System

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common vestibular conditions. BPPV is rarely serious except for the possible increase in the chances of falling. BPPV is caused by the crystals in the inner ear becoming unstuck from their usual place and freely moving in one or more of the three ear canals that make up the inner ear. These ear canals are filled with fluid and tiny hair cells, and they tell our brain and eyes about the speed and direction we are moving. When the crystals get into these canals, they disrupt the fluids’ normal movement past the hairs, sending our brain confusing information that makes us feel the spins (vertigo). You may also feel your eyes moving funny as they vibrate side to side, referred to as nystagmus. 

Anyone can experience this in their lifetime; however, it is more common in people over the age of 50 and more common in women. Injuries to the balance organs of the inner ear, head trauma or whiplash can also cause BPPV. In addition to vertigo, other symptoms may include:

  • Dizziness
  • Imbalance
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

BPPV is typically unilateral, which means it occurs either in the left or right ear. Although, in more rare cases, it is bilateral, causing both ears to be affected. BPPV may be experienced for a very short duration, or it may last a lifetime, with symptoms occurring in intermittent patterns that vary by frequency, duration, and intensity. The most common cause of BPPV in people under the age of 50 is head injury and is presumed to result from a concussive force that displaces the otoconia. In people over 50 years of age, BPPV is primarily idiopathic, meaning it occurs for no known reason but is usually linked to natural age-related degeneration of the otolithic membrane. 

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo Treatment

Sometimes, BPPV will go away on its own within a few weeks or months; However, the symptoms can be debilitating. At Diversified Health, our Vestibular Experts, Chiropractor, Dr. Caitlin Sellan and Physiotherapist, Jennifer Mildon, can treat you with an in-office particle repositioning procedure. This procedure consists of several simple and slow maneuvers for positioning your head. The goal of these movements is to move the particles from the fluid-filled semicircular canals of your inner ear into a tiny bag-like open area that houses one of the otolith organs where these particles don’t cause trouble and are more easily resorbed. You will also be given home repositioning exercises to help maintain your treatment effect. In many cases, only 1-2 treatments are needed to resolve symptoms. 

What to Expect During Your BPPV Treatment

The procedure involves holding four positions for about 30 seconds each or for as long as you experience symptoms in that hold position. Once symptoms have stopped, your Vestibular Clinician will get you to stay in the position for an additional 30 seconds while watching your eyes for abnormal movements. The procedure may be repeated more than once within one treatment session. They may teach you how to perform the procedure yourself so that you can perform it at home as needed, although nearly 80% of people experience relief after the initial treatment. 

Contact our clinic today for more information on Vertigo-related treatments or to book with our Physiotherapist Jennifer Mildon or with our Chiropractor Dr. Caitlin Sellan who specializes in Vestibular treatments. Please contact us at 250-382-0018 or book online at www.diversifiedhealth.janeapp.com.

 

#physiotherapy #vertigo #balance #dizzy #chiropractor #victoriabc #balance #health #multidisciplinaryclinic #vestibular

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Fall in Love With Fitness Again. The Right Personal Trainer Makes It Possible

Whether you’ve taken a long hiatus from your fitness routine or you’re questioning the effectiveness of your current exercise program, there are a few common barriers that may be hindering your results and souring your relationship with fitness. The good news is that the right personal trainer can make a difference. Here’s how:

Common Fitness Barrier #1: You Don’t Know What You’re Doing

A personal trainer takes the guesswork out of your workout routine.

Perhaps it’s your first time visiting a gym, or maybe it’s been so long since you’ve picked up weights that you can’t remember what to do and how to do it properly. You know how that saying goes: when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Winging it at the gym may feel productive, and it’s certainly better than doing nothing, but for your relationship with fitness to really stick, it needs repetition and consistency. But first, you need to familiarize yourself with the exercises you’ll be doing and why you’ll be doing them — you need a plan! Personal training takes the guesswork out of your workouts with a formula for success. 

Common Fitness Barrier #2: Your Workout Routine Is Painful, Boring, or Both!

The right personal trainer will identify what your workouts need to deliver results.

If your current workouts feel like a slog:

Something needs to change fast before boredom makes you part ways with your gym and question your commitment to fitness. There are several ways to get to your goal without suffering through workouts that make you feel like a hamster on a wheel (hey, hour-long treadmill sessions, I’m talking about you). If you hate what it takes to see results, heading to the gym won’t stand a chance at competing with other, more pleasure-inducing priorities such as Netflix. 

Even worse, pain puts the brakes on activity and progress faster than boredom:

When something hurts, your body screams, “stop!” And often for a good reason. Past or impending injuries, including your general health, should always be assessed before starting a new activity. And, if something hurts, have it checked out by a practitioner before proceeding. One of the key roles a good personal trainer plays in your relationship with fitness is to help you avoid injury by ensuring proper form and addressing any muscle imbalances.

A good personal trainer will also help you know how hard to push and how long to rest, which helps you feel less sore between workouts. While pain means “stop,” muscle soreness is part and parcel of muscle growth, but the right balance of personal training and rest can make delayed onset muscle soreness less severe and more manageable.

Common Fitness Barrier #3: You Stopped Seeing Results

Let’s face it, relationships stick when needs are met, and if your current workout routine is making you feel stuck, it’s time for an intervention. Time, after all, is your most precious commodity, so it makes sense to want to get something out of all the time you invest in the gym and your workouts. 

A good personal trainer and exercise plan takes into account your level of fitness now and what needs to be done to achieve your attainable goals. Personal training is more than jotting down a series of exercises.

The right personal trainer is a skilled strategist that considers:

  • Your current fitness level and abilities
  • Your lifestyle and time constraints
  • Your rest and nutrition 
  • Habits and attitudes towards food and activity that sabotage progress
  • Whether your goals are realistically attainable for your physiology
  • What exercises are best suited to your abilities and goals
  • Exercise frequency, duration, and intensity needed to achieve your goals within the time you can allot to fitness
  • How often your exercise plan needs to change to warrant progressive results
  • How to do each exercise safely and effectively, with proper form that takes into account your body’s dynamics, past injuries, and range of motion – slight adjustments can make a world of difference

Ready to Fall in Love With Fitness Again?

It’s easy to put off making changes, but the sooner you do, the closer you’ll be to attaining your goals (and enjoying your workouts). Our Personal Trainer and Kinesiologist, Angelina Schaaf, is here to help. Imagine how great you’ll feel seeing results from a customized workout plan designed specifically for you and your goals. 

Take the next step:

Book a consultation with our personal trainer and kinesiologist, Angelina Schaaf. Call our clinic today at (250) 382-0018 or book your appointment online.

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