Balance

Balance

A balance disorder means feeling dizziness or vertigo when standing, walking or even lying down. There are many causes of balance issues, but almost all stem from problems with the inner ear. Mammals sense balance because the inner ear has structures called semicircular canals with ducts inside them. The ducts contain tiny hairs cells (stereocilia) and a thick gel structure called the cupula. When you turn your head, stand up or sit down, the gel moves against the stereocilia and tells the brain that your body has changed orientation.

Vertigo

The inner ear has a mechanism called the vestibular system that controls balance. Inside the system are semicircular canals with ducts, tiny hairs cells (stereocilia) and a thick gel structure called the cupula. When you turn your head, stand up or sit down, the gel moves against the stereocilia and receptors tell the brain that…

Read More

Vestibular Neuronitis

Vestibular neuronitis is a disorder of the vestibulocochlear nerve of the inner ear. The purpose of the nerve is to send balance and head position information from the inner ear to the brain. When the nerve is infected or inflamed, it disrupts the flow of information. Symptoms of vestibular neuronitis include vertigo, dizziness, nausea, vomiting,…

Read More

Re-Positioning Maneuver (Epley)

The Epley maneuver is a series of head movements that restores equilibrium of the vestibular system and relieves symptoms of benign positional vertigo (BPV). BPV is caused by disturbances of the vestibular system in the inner ear when crystals of calcium carbonate clog the semicircular canals and sensory receptors send mixed signals to the brain…

Read More