Dizziness when turning in bed
Some people notice that they suddenly become dizzy when turning over in bed. The dizziness often occurs with head movements, for example when turning in bed, lying down or getting up.
The complaints can be brief but intense. Many people describe it as feeling as if the room spins for a moment.
Complaints people often describe
People with these complaints often describe sudden spinning dizziness with movements in and around the bed. The dizziness usually lasts a few seconds to at most one minute.
Sudden spinning dizziness
Brief but intense
The dizziness can start suddenly and often feels as if the room spins for a moment.
Dizzy when turning in bed
With head movement
The complaints may occur when you turn over in bed.
Dizzy when lying down
From sitting to lying
Lying down can also trigger the dizziness.
Dizzy when getting up
Getting out of bed
Some people become dizzy when they come up from bed.
Bending or looking up
Head movements
The complaints can also occur when bending down or looking up.
BPPV may fit dizziness when turning over
A common cause of dizziness when turning over in bed is Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
With this condition, small crystals in the vestibular organ become displaced. This can cause the balance system to send incorrect signals to the brain when the head moves.
Whether BPPV is indeed the cause should be assessed through examination. This page does not replace a diagnosis.
What may be assessed during the examination?
When someone has these complaints, a physiotherapist can assess whether the dizziness is indeed caused by BPPV. During the examination, we look at, among other things:
Eye movements
Eye responses
Eye movements can provide important information in positional dizziness.
Vestibular system
Responses to movement
Responses of the vestibular system during head movements may be assessed.
Balance and stability
Standing and moving
Balance and stability may be included in the examination.
Different head positions
Provoking complaints
The assessment may look at how the complaints respond to different head positions.
Special manoeuvres for BPPV
When the complaints are caused by BPPV, treatment can often consist of special manoeuvres that help move the crystals in the vestibular organ back to the right place.
Which manoeuvre is suitable depends on the assessment and on the direction in which complaints and eye movements are provoked.
Do you experience dizziness when turning over in bed?
It may be useful to have the cause of the complaints assessed. We carefully look at your complaint pattern and discuss which next step may be appropriate.