Feeling that you or the room are spinning can be a very debilitating problem. But as scary as this may seem, most times it’s a very simple problem to fix. If the symptoms last less than two minutes, and only happen when you’re in specific positions, such as rolling in bed or bending over, it’s likely a condition referred to as BPPV(Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo). BPPV occurs when calcium crystals in the inner ear get stuck in the wrong area. This can result from a hit to the head or can happen with no apparent reason. A vestibular physiotherapist can diagnose BPPV with some simple testing. Treatment typically involves specific head positioning combined with rolling, and the problem may even be resolved after the first session. But usually, it takes three or four tries. If the symptoms of BPPV are familiar to you, help is available.

Kyle Crockatt, BMR, PT, www.physiofirstclinic.ca