- Chest pain, trouble breathing, a sudden severe headache or pain, new weakness or numbness, loss of bladder or bowel control, or a fall with a head injury needs emergency care now. Call 911.
Care
Positional vertigo
A positional test, and head movements done with you in the room when they fit.
Some spinning starts only when your head changes position: rolling over in bed, lying back, bending down or looking up. It tends to last under a minute. A positional test shows whether it fits this pattern.
This care is for you if
The spinning starts when you roll over, lie back, bend down or look up
It lasts a short time and then settles
Your doctor has checked you and suggested a positional test
You want to know what to do when it starts
What we do
A positional test
You lie back with your head turned while we watch your eyes, one side at a time.
Head movements, when they fit
If the test points to it, a set of head positions done with you in the room. We explain the risks first, and what you may feel afterward.
What to do afterward
How to sleep, what to avoid for a day and what to do if it comes back.
A plan for flare-ups
Short exercises you can do at home, and when to call us.
Your visit
What a first test looks like
One therapist, about an hour and a quarter. Bring someone with you if you like.
- 01
We hear when it happens
When the dizziness comes, how long it lasts, what sets it off and what you were doing the first time. Bring your list of medicines and anything your doctor has found.
- 02
We watch your eyes
You follow a target and look between two points while we watch how your eyes move and settle. Some people wear light video goggles so we can see the eyes in the dark.
- 03
We move your head and body
You turn your head, lie back and sit up in set positions. This can bring the dizziness on for a moment, which is part of what we are looking for. Say stop and we stop.
- 04
We test your balance
You stand on the floor and then on foam, with your eyes open and then closed, and you walk with turns. A therapist stays beside you the whole time.
- 05
We explain what we found
In plain words, with what it means for your week. You practice the first exercises with us, and with your say-so we write to your doctor.
Before you book
What decides how many visits
What the test finds, whether it comes back, what else is going on with your balance and what your doctor advises. We say what we expect once the test is done.
How it is paid for
We bill many kinds of plans. If you pay without insurance, we give you a written estimate before care starts.
How fees workWhen to see a doctor first
See a doctor first for dizziness that is new, that lasts, or that comes with a severe headache, trouble speaking or seeing, new weakness or numbness, or a fall with a head injury. For those, call 911. We do not diagnose the cause, and we do not advise on medicines.
Questions about this care
Does the test hurt?
It does not hurt, but it can bring on the spinning for a moment. We tell you each step before we do it.
Is it right for everyone?
No. Some people should not have the head movements, for example after a neck injury, and we ask about that first. The therapist explains the risks and the choices.