Vertigo & Dizziness Treatment in Omaha
(402) 934-4220
BPPV Evaluation, Dix-Hallpike Testing & Epley Maneuver
If you’ve ever rolled over in bed and suddenly felt like the entire room was spinning, you’re not alone.
Many people describe episodes of dizziness or vertigo that occur when they roll over in bed, look up, bend over, or change positions. These symptoms can be frightening, but one of the most common causes is a condition called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
At Life Source Chiropractic in Omaha, we evaluate patients suffering from vertigo and dizziness to determine the underlying cause of their symptoms. If your vertigo is caused by BPPV, we can identify the affected ear, perform the appropriate Dix-Hallpike Test, and provide the correct Epley Maneuver or other canalith repositioning procedure to help restore normal balance.
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What Is the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo?
Although many people use the terms interchangeably, dizziness and vertigo are not the same.
Dizziness is a general feeling of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or feeling faint.
Vertigo is the false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving, even though you are standing still.
People experiencing vertigo often describe:
- The room spinning
- Feeling pulled to one side
- Loss of balance
- Nausea
- Difficulty walking
- Symptoms when rolling over in bed
- Dizziness when looking up
- Vertigo when bending over
Because vertigo often involves the body’s balance system, identifying the underlying cause is extremely important.
What Causes Vertigo?
Vertigo can have many different causes.
Some of the most common include:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular neuritis
- Ménière’s disease
- Vestibular migraine
- Head injuries
- Neurological disorders
- Certain medications
While several conditions can cause vertigo, BPPV is one of the most common—and one of the most successfully treated.
What Is BPPV?
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of positional vertigo.
Inside your inner ear are tiny calcium carbonate crystals called otoconia. Normally, these crystals remain inside a structure called the utricle, where they help your body detect head position and movement.
Sometimes these crystals become dislodged.
When they move into one of the semicircular canals—most commonly the posterior semicircular canal—they interfere with the normal movement of fluid inside the inner ear.
As you change positions, the loose crystals continue moving even after your head has stopped.
Your brain receives conflicting information from your inner ear, eyes, and joints, creating the spinning sensation known as vertigo.
Why Does the Room Spin When You Roll Over in Bed or Change Positions?
One of the most common questions we hear is:
“Why does the room spin when I roll over, or if I move suddenly?”
The answer is gravity.
When you roll over, lie down, sit up, bend over, or look upward, gravity causes the loose crystals inside the affected semicircular canal to move.
As these crystals move, they disturb the fluid within the canal and stimulate your balance sensors.
Although your body has stopped moving, your brain receives signals telling it that you are still in motion.
The result is a brief but intense episode of vertigo that often lasts a few seconds to a minute.
Common Symptoms of BPPV
Symptoms commonly include:
- Vertigo when rolling over in bed
- Dizziness when lying down
- Vertigo when looking upward
- Dizziness when bending over
- Brief episodes of spinning
- Nausea
- Loss of balance
- Unsteadiness while walking
- Motion sensitivity
Because many other conditions can cause dizziness, proper diagnosis is essential.
How Is BPPV Diagnosed?
At Life Source Chiropractic, every patient begins with a thorough evaluation.
If your symptoms suggest BPPV, we perform the Dix-Hallpike Test, the gold standard orthopedic test used to diagnose posterior canal BPPV.
This examination helps us determine:
- Whether BPPV is present
- Which ear is affected
- Which semicircular canal contains the displaced crystals
- Which repositioning maneuver is appropriate
Accurate diagnosis is important because treatment differs depending on the affected ear and canal.
How Does the Epley Maneuver Work?
The Epley Maneuver is one of the most effective treatments for posterior canal BPPV.
Using a series of carefully guided head and body positions, gravity helps move the loose calcium crystals out of the semicircular canal and back into the utricle where they belong.
Once the crystals return to their normal location, they no longer stimulate the balance organs abnormally, allowing vertigo symptoms to improve or resolve.
For many patients with BPPV, the Epley Maneuver provides significant relief after proper diagnosis and treatment.
Can Chiropractic Help Vertigo?
Not every case of vertigo is caused by BPPV.
Some patients experience dizziness due to inner ear infections, Ménière’s disease, vestibular migraine, neurological disorders, or other medical conditions.
That’s why identifying the underlying cause is the most important step.
When BPPV is diagnosed, we can determine the affected side and perform the appropriate canalith repositioning procedure.
In our clinical experience, many patients respond well when an upper cervical chiropractic adjustment is performed before the Epley Maneuver when clinically appropriate. We have successfully helped many patients with BPPV return to normal daily activities without the spinning sensations that brought them into our office.
If your evaluation suggests another cause for your vertigo, we will help guide you toward the most appropriate next step in your care.
When Should You Seek Care?
You should schedule an evaluation if you experience:
- Recurrent vertigo
- The room spinning when rolling over in bed
- Dizziness when lying down
- Vertigo when looking up
- Persistent balance problems
- Falls
- Nausea associated with head movement
- Episodes that continue returning
Early diagnosis often shortens recovery and helps prevent recurring episodes.
Vertigo & BPPV Treatment in Omaha
If you’re searching for vertigo treatment in Omaha, BPPV treatment near me, or the Epley Maneuver in Omaha, Life Source Chiropractic is here to help.
Our comprehensive evaluation helps determine whether your symptoms are caused by BPPV or another condition affecting your balance system.
If BPPV is diagnosed, we perform the appropriate repositioning maneuver based on the affected ear and canal while providing personalized recommendations to help reduce the likelihood of future episodes.
Our goal is to help you safely return to your normal activities without the fear of recurring vertigo.
Schedule your evaluation today and let us help you determine what’s causing your dizziness.
www.lifesourcechiropractic.com/appointment/
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes vertigo?
- One of the most common causes is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), in which loose calcium crystals move into the inner ear’s semicircular canals and disrupt normal balance signals.
What is BPPV?
- BPPV stands for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo, a common inner ear condition that causes brief episodes of spinning dizziness during certain head movements.
Why does the room spin when I roll over in bed?
- Rolling over changes the position of loose calcium crystals inside the inner ear, causing abnormal stimulation of the balance organs and creating the sensation that the room is spinning.
How is BPPV diagnosed?
- BPPV is commonly diagnosed using the Dix-Hallpike Test, which helps identify the affected ear and semicircular canal.
Does the Epley Maneuver work?
- For many patients with posterior canal BPPV, the Epley Maneuver is highly effective because it guides displaced crystals back into their proper location within the inner ear.
Can a chiropractor help vertigo?
- If vertigo is caused by BPPV, chiropractors trained in evaluating vestibular disorders can perform the Dix-Hallpike Test, determine the affected ear, and perform the appropriate canalith repositioning maneuver. If another condition is suspected, further medical evaluation may be recommended.

