Monthly Archives: November 2013

Resource for Understanding Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

In my last blog post Building Blocks for Better Balance I included some exercises to help improve balance skills in older adults. As mentioned in the post, balance is related to seeing (visual system), feeling where you are in space (proprioceptive system) and the inner ear (vestibular system). Sometimes dizziness caused by inner ear issues can affect balance in older adults and should be addressed prior to introducing balance exercises. Debris in the inner ear can cause a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Chicago Dizziness and Hearing private medical practice, led by Dr. Timothy Hain and Dr. Marcello Cherchi, affiliated with Northwestern University, has a comprehensive description of BPPV on their website that addresses causes, diagnosis and treatment. If your client is experiencing issues with vertigo, this is an excellent resource for better understanding the condition. The link is provided below.

http://dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/bppv.html