Feeling Dizzy or Unsteady? How Vestibular Physiotherapy Can Help
Does the room spin when you roll over in bed? Do you feel unsteady when walking, or uncomfortable in busy places like shopping centres?
Dizziness and balance problems can make everyday activities feel difficult. You may stop exercising, avoid outings or worry about falling.
At North Balwyn Physiotherapy, our vestibular physiotherapy service can help assess your symptoms and develop a treatment plan to help you move with greater confidence.
What is vestibular physiotherapy?
Your vestibular system is the sensory system in your inner ears. It works with your eyes, muscles and joints to help your brain understand where your body is and how it is moving. It also helps keep your vision steady when you move your head and assists with spatial orientation.
When this system is affected, you may experience dizziness, vertigo, blurred vision during movement or a feeling of being off balance. The risk of falls is also increased while these symptoms are present.
Vestibular physiotherapy involves taking a detailed history of symptoms, specific eye tests, balance assessments, treatments and exercises to help manage these symptoms and improve balance. Treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life.
Who may benefit?
Vestibular physiotherapy may help people experiencing:
- A spinning sensation when rolling in bed, looking up or bending down.
- Ongoing dizziness or unsteadiness following an inner-ear illness.
- Difficulty keeping their vision clear when moving their head.
- Dizziness triggered by movement or visually busy environments.
- Balance difficulties that affect walking and everyday activities.
Conditions that may benefit include:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV happens when tiny crystals in the inner ear move into the wrong location. It typically causes brief episodes of spinning with changes in head position. Specific repositioning manoeuvres can move these crystals back to an appropriate position to resolve the symptoms.
Reduced inner-ear balance function
Following conditions such as vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, some people continue to feel dizzy or unsteady. Rehabilitation can help the brain adapt to changes in balance signals and desensitise the vestibular system, leading to a reduction in symptoms over time.
Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD)
This condition can cause ongoing dizziness or unsteadiness, often made worse by standing, movement or busy surroundings. Vestibular rehabilitation may form part of a broader treatment plan, in conjunction with other management such as medication.
Vestibular migraine or concussion-related symptoms
Vestibular migraine refers to spontaneous episodes vertigo, dizziness, motion sensitivity and visual sensitivity. Headaches may or may not occur and episodes typically last from a few minutes to 3 days. A personal or family history of motion sickness or standard migraines increases the risk of developing Vestibular migraine.
Some people benefit from rehabilitation for ongoing balance problems and movement sensitivity, alongside medical management. Assessment helps determine whether this approach is suitable.
How can we help?
We start by listening to your story: when your symptoms began, what brings them on and which activities have become difficult.
Your assessment may include checking your eye movements, your response to different head positions, and your balance and walking. We also consider whether you need further assessment by your GP or a specialist such as a Neurologist.
Your treatment plan may include:
- Repositioning manoeuvres for confirmed BPPV.
- Gaze stabilisation exercises to help keep vision steady during head movement.
- Balance and walking exercises to improve stability.
- Gradual exposure to movements that trigger symptoms, where appropriate.
- A personalised home program to support progress between appointments.
Exercises are selected and progressed to suit your needs. Recovery varies depending on the condition, and some people need a combination of physiotherapy and medical care.
Get back to the activities you enjoy
Your goals might be walking confidently around the neighbourhood, returning to exercise, shopping comfortably or getting out of bed without the room spinning.
We build your treatment around the activities that matter to you, with clear guidance and support along the way.
If dizziness or balance problems are affecting your daily life, contact North Balwyn Physiotherapy to book a Vestibular assessment.
Dizziness has many possible causes. Seek urgent medical help for sudden dizziness accompanied by weakness, difficulty speaking, double vision, a severe new headache or difficulty standing or walking.
📞 Call North Balwyn Physiotherapy on 9859 5585
or
📅 Book an appointment online with one of our experienced physiotherapists.