Understanding Vertigo and BPPV

A young man sitting cross-legged on the floor in a gym, surrounded by exercise equipment, with a focused expression.

What is Vertigo and BPPV?

Vertigo is a sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when you’re actually standing still. One of the most common causes is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, or BPPV. In simple terms, BPPV happens when tiny crystals in your inner ear get dislodged and move into the wrong part of the ear canal. This can cause sudden dizziness when you change the position of your head—like when you roll over in bed or look up quickly.

A personal trainer assisting a woman during a workout in a gym. The woman is lying on a mat with one leg raised. The trainer is kneeling beside her, providing guidance. The gym has various fitness equipment and weights in the background.
A personal trainer assists a man with a workout at the gym. The trainer is leaning over a bench, holding a container, while the man in a teal shirt performs an exercise with his arm on a machine.

What Are the Symptoms?

If you have BPPV, you might experience sudden episodes of dizziness or a spinning sensation, especially when you move your head. It can feel scary—like the room is whirling around you—and it can sometimes come with nausea or a sense of unsteadiness. The good news is that while these symptoms can feel alarming, BPPV is quite common and very treatable.

Two men in a gym, one standing and the other kneeling, engaged in a discussion. The gym has weight racks, dumbbells, and exercise benches.
A man seated on a workout bench performing an exercise with his arm, while a trainer stands next to him holding a weight with his hand inside a gym. The gym has black and red power racks with weights and barbells, and other people can be seen in the background.

Don’t Panic—It’s Treatable and I’m Here to Help

I know how unsettling vertigo can be, especially if it wakes you up in the middle of the night. The important thing to know is that you don’t need to go through a long, complicated process to get care. In New Mexico, you have direct access to physical therapy, which means you can come straight to me without needing a referral.

If you’re experiencing vertigo symptoms—like the room spinning when you move your head—just call me.

I’m committed to seeing you the same day to make sure you get the care you need right away.

A gym setting with artificial turf floor and black mesh fence. Two men are exercising; one is seated on the ground pulling a battle rope, wearing a teal shirt and black shorts, and the other is standing, observing, wearing a dark polo shirt and gray pants. Equipment such as weights and a medicine ball are visible.