A sudden spin when you roll in bed, look up, bend down, or sit up can be unsettling. One common cause is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV. “Benign” means it is not life-threatening; “positional” means symptoms are triggered by head position.
What causes BPPV?
Tiny calcium-carbonate particles called otoconia normally sit in part of the inner ear. If they become displaced into a semicircular canal, head movement can shift the particles and send a false motion signal to the brain. The result is usually a brief burst of vertigo, often lasting less than a minute, sometimes with nausea or unsteadiness.
How Physical Therapy Helps
A vestibular physical therapist can examine eye movements and use positional testing to identify the involved ear and canal. If BPPV is confirmed, a canalith-repositioning maneuver can guide the particles back where they belong. This is not a generic exercise: the correct sequence depends on the pattern found during evaluation. Many people improve quickly, although recurrence can happen.
When to Seek Care
New dizziness should not be self-diagnosed. Seek urgent medical attention for dizziness with facial droop, weakness, numbness, trouble speaking, double vision, a severe new headache, fainting, chest pain, or inability to walk.
Ready to Feel Steady Again?
If position changes trigger brief spinning, Next Level Physical Therapy & Wellness can evaluate your symptoms and create a targeted plan. Contact our Oklahoma City clinic to schedule a vestibular evaluation.
