Ever feel like the room is swimming – or, as Carol Vorderman described on a recent Instagram post, as if you’re ‘walking on a moving ship’? Up to one in 10 people will experience dizziness or unsteadiness in any given year – and experts say we’re more likely to suffer as we get older.

At 65, the former Countdown host has shared a recent experience of her own extreme dizziness – including the unusual treatment that made it ‘95% better’ after just one session – in the hope that she can help others who find themselves in the same boat.

‘I tripped over a tree root near my house on a public path, stumbled and fell on my head,’ she posted. ‘Was unconscious, ambulance to hospital… I was discharged and the next day couldn’t sit up and had massive continual vomiting so straight back to hospital – thank you Bristol Royal Infirmary.’

CT scans followed and Carol was discharged. But, two weeks later, still experiencing dizziness, she sought help at Blue Sky Sports Physiotherapy & Concussion Clinic in Bristol. After a series of tests, her specialist physio suspected a condition called BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), which affects the inner ear, and treated Carol with the Epley manoeuvre.

‘[I had to] Sit upright on the massage bed with legs straight out,’ says Carol, ‘look at her with eyes open, she held me and then threw me backwards quite quickly (and safely). OMG it felt like I was falling off the edge of the earth! She held me until the feeling passed for a minute or so then did the same on the other side. Wow. After one session 95% of the dizziness went… I’ve had 3 sessions in total and have been discharged.’

So, what is the Epley manoeuvre?

Carol’s physio, Sophie Whitehead, headache and concussion specialist physiotherapist, explains: ‘Dizziness is a common symptom after a concussion or head injury. It can be caused by a range of conditions, including BPPV, which is one of the most common causes of vertigo seen in clinic and is highly treatable. While BPPV can occur at any age, particularly after a head injury, it’s most common in adults over 50 and is one of the leading causes of dizziness in older adults.

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‘BPPV is treated using a series of specific head and body movements, known as repositioning manoeuvres, which help guide the tiny crystals in the inner ear back to where they belong. These manoeuvres are quick, non-invasive and often very effective, with many people experiencing significant improvement after just one or two treatments.’

3 types of dizziness

Good Housekeeping’s Dr Sarah Jarvis says there are three main types of dizziness:

Feeling lightheaded, as if you’re going to faint
This can be due to dehydration, a side-effect of different medications, low iron level levels, low blood pressure when you stand up, problems with your heart rate, anxiety and more.

Vertigo – dizziness with a spinning sensation
One of the most common causes of this is BPPV, which is what Carol was diagnosed with.

Unsteadiness on your feet – known as ‘disequilibrium’
Problems with balance become more common with age, but other conditions, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, can also contribute.

‘BPPV is thought to be caused by one or more tiny solid crystals that form inside your inner ear – and your inner ear is responsible for sensing changes in position and maintaining your balance,’ Dr Sarah explains. ‘The Epley manoeuvre involves a series of four movements of your head; after each movement, you hold your head in the same place for 30 seconds or so. The aim of this is to shift the tiny crystal out of your semicircular canal and it can be extremely effective in BPPV.’ The Epley manoeuvre can be tried at home – but, says Dr Sarah, ‘it’s crucial to see a doctor first, so that the cause of your vertigo can be diagnosed.’