Dizzy Spells, Vertigo, and Unsteadiness: The Physical Therapy Solution You Haven't Heard Of

Stop Spinning and Start Living: How Vestibular Rehab Physical Therapy Can End Your Dizziness

Tired of Dizziness Controlling Your Life?

If you're constantly struggling with dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, or a persistent feeling of being "off balance," we know how debilitating it can be. Simple actions like getting out of bed, driving, or walking in a busy store can feel like major challenges.

But you know what the good news is? Vestibular Physical Therapy (PT) can help! Vestibular PT is a highly specialized form of treatment that targets the root cause of these symptoms: your inner ear  or vestibular system.

What Is the Vestibular System and Why Is It Important?

The vestibular system is a tiny mechanism located in your inner ear. It works with your eyes (visual system) and your body's sensors (somatosensory system) to tell your brain where your head and body are in space.

When this crucial system malfunctions, the conflicting signals sent to your brain cause symptoms like dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, and an increased risk of falls.

Key Conditions Vestibular Physical Therapy Treats

Vestibular rehabilitation is a targeted, evidence-based treatment for a wide range of inner ear and balance-related disorders.

If you've been diagnosed with or suspect any of the following, a Vestibular PT specialist can help:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): The most common cause of vertigo. Brief, intense spinning sensations triggered by specific head movements (like rolling over in bed or looking up).

Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD): Persistent, non-spinning dizziness and unsteadiness lasting for more than three months, often worsened by upright posture, head movements, or exposure to complex visual environments.

Vestibular Hypofunction: Reduced function in one or both inner ears, leading to chronic dizziness, unsteadiness, and oscillopsia (sensation that the world is bouncing or blurring when you move your head).

Cervicogenic Dizziness: Dizziness and balance issues originating from dysfunction or stiffness in the neck (cervical spine). Dry needling has been proven to be very effective with this and with headaches associated with cervicogenic dizziness! Click here to learn more

Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome: Symptoms lasting months after a concussion, including dizziness, headaches, fatigue, poor concentration, anxiety, and light/noise sensitivity.

How Does Vestibular Rehabilitation Work? (The PT Toolkit)

A certified Vestibular Physical Therapist will perform a thorough assessment, which includes testing your eye movements, balance and gait, reaction to positional changes, and neck function.

Based on your specific diagnosis, your personalized treatment plan may include:

Vestibular PT Treatment	What it Does	Common Use
Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers	Physically moves displaced inner-ear crystals ("ear rocks") back into place.	BPPV treatment (e.g., Epley or Semont maneuvers).
Adaptation Exercises	Uses gaze stabilization drills (like VOR x1/x2) to improve your ability to keep your vision steady during head movement.	Vestibular Hypofunction and general dizziness.
Habituation Training	Retrains the brain by safely and repeatedly exposing you to movements or visual triggers that provoke your dizziness, reducing your long-term sensitivity.	Motion sensitivity and chronic dizziness.
Substitution & Balance Training	Challenges your balance on varied and compliant surfaces, and incorporates walking challenges to compensate for lost function and improve stability for real-life situations.	Chronic unsteadiness, fall prevention.
Manual Therapy / Dry Needling	Addresses stiffness in the neck and pain, which can contribute to dizziness, through mobilization and soft tissue techniques.	Cervicogenic Dizziness and neck-related symptoms.

When Should You See a Vestibular Physical Therapist?

Don't wait for your symptoms to get worse. Consider seeking specialized Vestibular Physical Therapy for dizziness if you experience:

Recurring vertigo (spinning sensation).

Feeling chronically off-balance or "floaty."

Dizziness when turning your head, getting out of bed, or looking up/down.

Trouble walking in the dark, on uneven ground, or in crowded stores.

Nausea or fatigue linked to motion.

The Power of Neuroplasticity

Vestibular rehab is so effective because it leverages the brain's incredible ability to adapt and rewire itself, a process called neuroplasticity. Through targeted exercises, your physical therapist accelerates this process, helping your brain compensate for inner ear dysfunction and regain control.

Treatment duration can vary from just a few sessions for simple BPPV to several weeks or months for more complex, chronic conditions. The goal is the same: to give you the tools and education you need to get back to enjoying life without dizziness.

Is Vestibular Physical Therapy Right For You?

At AVION Sports Rehab, we have Vestibular Concussion Certified Therapists that are eager to help you! We've helped dozens of patients with dizziness, loss of balance, BPPV and more and have seen significant improvements within their first visit! If you’ve been dealing with dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness, or a persistent feeling of being "off balance" we can help.

Click here to book a session with our team and let us build a plan that helps you move without limits.