Vertigo / BPPV

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Specialised Management

That spinning sensation when you roll over in bed is often BPPV, a common and very treatable cause of vertigo. A simple repositioning technique can settle it, sometimes in one or two sessions.

Talk to me about dizziness and vertigo

The basics

What is BPPV vertigo?

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, happens when tiny crystals in the inner ear move out of place and confuse your balance system. The result is short, intense spinning triggered by head movements like rolling over or looking up.

It is common and, despite how alarming it feels, very treatable. A guided repositioning manoeuvre moves the crystals back where they belong, and gentle balance retraining helps if any unsteadiness lingers.

What to notice

Common symptoms

  • Brief, intense spinning with head movements
  • Triggered by rolling over, lying down, or looking up
  • A sense of unsteadiness or being off balance
  • Nausea with the spinning episodes
  • Symptoms that come in short bursts
Why it happens

Common causes

  • Displaced crystals in the inner ear
  • More common with age
  • Sometimes after a head bump or illness
  • Long periods lying with the head in one position
  • Often no clear single cause
The treatment

How physiotherapy helps

I assess your dizziness carefully, and where it is BPPV I use a guided repositioning technique, then add balance retraining if any unsteadiness remains.

Careful assessment

Positional testing to confirm whether it is BPPV and which ear.

Repositioning

A guided manoeuvre to move the inner-ear crystals back into place.

Balance retraining

Gentle exercises if any unsteadiness lingers afterwards.

Advice and reassurance

Clear guidance on what to expect and how to manage episodes.

What to expect

Your recovery journey

Treatment moves through clear stages. I set the pace to suit you, but the path usually looks like this.

01

Assessment

I use positional tests to confirm the cause of your vertigo.

02

Reposition

A guided manoeuvre to settle the BPPV.

03

Retrain

Balance exercises if any unsteadiness remains.

04

Review

A check that symptoms have settled, and advice to prevent flare-ups.

In your sessions

Exercises I may use

  • Guided repositioning manoeuvres
  • Gaze-stability exercises
  • Gentle balance retraining
  • Habituation exercises for lingering dizziness

When dizziness needs urgent care

Seek urgent medical care if dizziness comes with a sudden severe headache, double vision, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, difficulty walking, or hearing loss, as these point to causes that need immediate attention.

Good to know

Questions I hear a lot

How quickly can it be fixed?
BPPV often responds to repositioning within one or two sessions, though some people need a few. I will let you know what to expect after assessing you.
Will it come back?
It can return in some people. If it does, the same treatment usually works again, and I can show you what to do.
Is all dizziness BPPV?
No, dizziness has several causes. Part of my assessment is checking whether it is BPPV or something that needs a different approach or a medical opinion.

Let's get you moving again

Book an assessment with me and I'll build a plan around your body, your goals, and your day-to-day life.

Call +91 87997 18841
This article is general information and is not a substitute for a personal assessment. Everyone is different, so please speak to a qualified physiotherapist or doctor for advice on your own situation.