The Otolith Organs: Why You Feel Pulled, Tilted, Rocking, or Swaying

In this episode of Talk Dizzy To Me, vestibular physical therapists Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS and Dr. Danielle Tolman, PT are joined by Dr. Katherine Deines, PT, NCS and Dr. Jaimy Wahab, PT, NCS, also known as the Neuro Dizzy Duo, for a deep dive into one of the most overlooked parts of the vestibular system: the otolith organs.While many people associate vertigo and dizziness with the semicircular canals and spinning sensations, this episode explores how the utricle and saccule help us sense gravity, acceleration, head position, vertical orientation, and linear movement. The conversation highlights why otolith dysfunction may contribute to symptoms such as rocking, swaying, bobbing, feeling pulled or pushed, floating, walking on marshmallows, disorientation, and feeling “off.”The guests also explain how otolith dysfunction may show up in conditions such as BPPV, vestibular migraine, PPPD/3PD, Mal de Débarquement Syndrome, concussion, dysautonomia, POTS, Parkinson’s disease, and other complex vestibular presentations.This episode is especially helpful for vestibular clinicians, physical therapists, audiologists, patients with chronic dizziness, and anyone trying to better understand why dizziness is not always “spinning.”Episode Resources:Where to find The Dizzy Duo on Instagram: @neuro_dizzy_duoEmail address:  [email protected], publications, or resources:Their Positive Spin on Dizziness advanced vestibular courses cover many lesser discussed topics: otolith dysfunctionthe difference between vestibular dysfunction and hypersensitivity visual motion hypersensitivityVestibular MigraineMal de Debarquement SyndromeMeniere’s diseaseRecommended products or links: https://www.reactiveeducation.com/storeHosted by:🎤 Dr. Abbie Ross, PT, NCS🎤 Dr. Danielle Tolman, PTFor episode recommendations or requests, email us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Partnered with:→ Our online program and community, The Dizzy Reset™, ⁠⁠use code TALKDIZZYTOME for 40% off your first payment⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Avulux glasses, use code DIZZYRESET for $25 off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Just Ingredients, use code TALKDIZZYTOME for 5% off⁠⁠Connect with Us:→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a free call with us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Get free resources straight to your inbox⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our online program and community, The Dizzy Reset™⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch podcast episodes (and more) on YouTube ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Disclaimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Enjoying the podcast? Leave us a review!Episode Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome and episode introduction01:36 – Jaimy's introduction03:28 – Katherine’s introduction06:38 – Why otolith organs are often overlooked07:04 – What the otolith organs are and how they work09:21 – Why dizziness is not always spinning12:38 – Conditions linked to otolith dysfunction16:42 – Otoliths, dysautonomia, POTS, and concussion21:28 – Understanding linear vertigo and non-spinning dizziness22:23 – How clinicians assess otolith function25:14 – Why patient descriptions matter27:28 – Using weights to help patients feel grounded30:16 – Individualizing vestibular rehab treatment31:37 – Head tilts, balance, and otolith-based exercises35:22 – How much weight may help without overdoing it39:52 – Vibration plates, BPPV, and vestibular concerns42:15 – Avoiding overreliance on tools and strategies44:33 – Astronauts, gravity, and otolith function46:28 – Key takeaways for vestibular clinicians52:05 – Key takeaways for patients with dizziness53:21 – Final thoughts and closing