Vertigo, Dizziness, Off Balance or Motion Sensitivity

When I assess ‘dizziness’ or more correctly speaking vertigo, the eyes can tell me a lot of information. It’s more than just staring deeply into your eyes ... I’m looking for ‘nystagmus’, which is a involuntary rhythmical eye movement that causes the eyes to ‘beat’ or move in certain directions. These ‘beating’ directions have meanings and alongside your history it fits into a clinical picture. The information gained can provide the likely source, location and if it is treatable through Physiotherapy or if you need a referral to a specialist. 

These three canals are an important aspect to the perception of angular velocity and therefore head movement in an associated plane of movement. Unfortunately, if not functioning optimally this part of the ear can provide misjudged information which may result in vertiginous ‘vertigo’ symptoms, dizziness or a sense of being ‘off’. A common conditions that affects this part of the ear is called ‘benign paroxysmal positional vertigo’ or BPPV.

BPPV is the most frequent vestibular disorder that affects people in their mid to later years of life. It’s where crystals in the canal can move in the circular canals. Gravity causes them to move after changes in head position in the plane of the affected ear. This results in inappropriate information of what is truely happening in your environment resulting in nystagmus (involuntary rhythmically eye beating) and vertigo. .

Good news is this is treatable through physiotherapy, with good clinical outcomes in managing the symptoms. Do you have dizziness or know of someone with dizziness? If you have symptoms of vertigo, dizziness or not feeling ‘right’, then it’s time to get it assessed - have a chat with me today and book an appointment.