Course Description:

Dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms affecting about 15-35% of adults yearly in large population-based studies2,3. Patients use the term dizziness to describe several different sensations but medically speaking it is different from vertigo. Dizziness is any distortion of the sensation of where one is within a space, whereas vertigo is a false sensation of movement, specifically rotation or spinning1. BPPV is one of the most common vestibular causes of dizziness. Among the three semicircular canals, the most common type is the posterior semicircular canal, accounting for 60 to 90% of all BPPVs5. Acute dizziness or vertigo is a common emergency department presentation, accounting for 2.1 to 3.6% of visits per year, with an estimated annual cost approximating 10 billion dollars in the U.S4.
This course is designed for rehab providers including physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants to improve their clinical skills in assessment and treatment of the dizzy patient. This course provides the knowledge and hands-on skills necessary to accurately assess and treat canalithiasis, the most common cause of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Through a combination of lecture, case-based discussion, and lab practice, therapists will learn to perform and interpret diagnostic maneuvers and apply appropriate canalith repositioning procedures. Clinical decision making to screen complaints of dizziness related to other neurological, cardiac, or cervical spine involvement will be included in course content. This course is focused on increasing clinician confidence in initiating treatment for the dizzy patients benefiting both entry level professionals as well as seasoned providers looking to further utilize this skill set.
Course Prerequisites: Although there are no required pre-course reading materials, we are providing a pre-course computer-based learning to review basic anatomy and physiology of the inner ear as well as pathophysiology of BPPV.
Upon successful demonstration of skill competence consistent with program objectives attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance with associated Continuing Education Credits.