OSF HealthCare specialists reported on Mar. 10 that new technology, including advanced goggles and virtual reality platforms, is improving the diagnosis and treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) for patients in Illinois.
The announcement highlights how technological advances are helping individuals with balance disorders receive more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments. BPPV, a condition caused by displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear, can lead to sudden dizziness and spinning sensations. These symptoms can be disruptive and frightening for those affected.
David Williams, a Bloomington resident and retired professor emeritus from Illinois State University, described his decades-long struggle with vertigo. “Well in my 40s one night, I woke up and I thought I was having a heart attack because everything was spinning, and I had cold chills. I was in cold sweats,” Williams said. He explained that earlier treatments were limited to motion sickness medication and waiting for symptoms to subside.
Kristine Cottone, PT, DPT, MBA, manager of rehab services at OSF HealthCare in Bloomington, said that diagnostic tools have improved significantly over the past two decades. “So, it has changed significantly in the sense that it has made it very clear what the problem is and I think 20 years ago, sometimes we were guessing based on test position and symptoms,” Cottone said. She noted that today’s goggles from Vestibular First allow therapists to analyze subtle eye movements linked to balance disorders for more precise diagnoses.
Williams shared how this technology has helped him manage his chronic condition: “A good part of it is from the old days, when there wasn’t much you could do but take the meclizine [motion sickness medication] and wait it out. That, you know, with the right treatment, the right diagnosis, and the right exercises, you can fix it pretty quick.”
Cottone also discussed Bertec—a virtual reality platform used by OSF Rehabilitation—which helps identify weaknesses in a patient’s vestibular system even without a formal diagnosis. “The Bertec really helps us identify…where in the system the weakness is,” she said.
According to Cottone, positional vertigo most commonly affects people ages 50-70 and is two to three times more likely among women. She recommends checking vitamin D levels for those with recurring symptoms since calcium carbonate crystals rely on vitamin D for stability.
OSF HealthCare contributes to community well-being by offering health guidance through its newsroom according to its official website. The organization operates a network of 17 hospitals as well as urgent-care locations across Illinois and Michigan according to its official website. It provides compassionate care through clinical initiatives while serving both urban and rural communities according to its official website.
OSF HealthCare functions as an integrated nonprofit health system managing hospitals under a unified ministry dedicated to community service according to its official website. Its services include emergency care; cancer treatment; heart services; neurological support; primary medicine; mental health care; as well as digital health options through OSF OnCall according to its official website.
Cottone emphasized that dizziness should not be ignored because many causes are treatable or may indicate serious conditions. “Having this equipment…is an added plus. It really allows community members to stay within their community and get the best care possible,” she said.
