Have you been struggling with vertigo? If your doctor has ruled out any serious underlying causes, like a brain tumor or diabetes, then you've probably been told you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. This is a really fancy way of saying that your dizziness is due to calcium debris in your ear canal throwing off your balance. The condition is pretty harmless, other than causing the annoying dizziness symptoms you've been experiencing. Fortunately, it is also quite easy to manage, but the solution might surprise you. Seeing a physical therapist is actually your best bet. Keep reading to learn more.

How can physical therapy help with vertigo?

While physical therapy is often seen as a means of dealing with sports injuries and other biomechanical ailments, it is actually far more than that. Physical therapists are experts in anatomy and know exactly how positioning the body in certain ways can affect various organs and tissues. They can use that to their advantage in treating your vertigo. Basically, they can move you into a position that causes the calcium crystals in your ear canal to shift and move into a position that makes you less dizzy.

What will your physical therapist actually do?

Have no fear — the procedures they will use are simple and painless. There are two different physical therapy techniques that are regularly used to treat vertigo. They are:

The Epley Maneuver: 

This is the simpler of the two movements, so your physical therapist will probably try it first. You will sit still as your therapist tilts your head towards the affected ear. Then, your therapist will slowly move your body backwards while your head remains in the same position. This will probably trigger feelings of vertigo. Your physical therapist will then slowly roll your head to the side, causing the calcium crystals to move into a position in which your vertigo subsides.

The Sermon Maneuver: 

Since this one is a little harder to perform precisely, most physical therapists will only do it when the Eply maneuver fails. You will sit down with your head looking towards the more affected ear. The therapist will then tilt the bed back so you are laying flat with your head tilted to one side. Then, the therapist will quickly jolt your head to the other side and have you hold that position. The crystals should shift when your head is jolted.

If you have been diagnosed with vertigo, definitely make an appointment with a physical therapist. These maneuvers are fast and painless, and they can really help.