What are Dizziness and Vertigo?
Dizziness and vertigo are common symptoms that can significantly affect your confidence, mobility and quality of life. While they are often used interchangeably, they describe different sensations. Dizziness may feel like light-headedness, unsteadiness or a loss of balance, whereas vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when they are not.
These symptoms can arise from problems within the inner ear (vestibular system), the brain, or other medical conditions. Common causes include Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, vestibular migraine, Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD), concussion and neurological conditions.
Although dizziness can be unsettling, many vestibular conditions respond extremely well to specialist assessment and rehabilitation.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
Specialist vestibular physiotherapy aims to identify the underlying cause of your dizziness and provide targeted treatment to reduce symptoms, improve balance and restore confidence.
At Greenacre Physio, your assessment and treatment may include:
- Comprehensive vestibular assessment
- Positional testing for BPPV
- Canalith repositioning manoeuvres (such as the Epley manoeuvre)
- Vestibular rehabilitation exercises
- Balance and gait retraining
- Habituation exercises for motion sensitivity
- Gaze stabilisation exercises
- Falls prevention strategies
- Education and advice on symptom management
- Personalised home exercise programmes
Our rehabilitation is tailored to your individual diagnosis and focuses on helping you return to work, driving, sport and everyday activities with confidence.
Why Choose Greenacre Physio?
At Greenacre Physio, our clinicians have extensive experience assessing and treating people with dizziness and vestibular disorders through specialist NHS vestibular and neurological services, as well as private practice. We understand that dizziness can have a significant impact on confidence, independence and quality of life, and that an accurate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.
Whether your symptoms are caused by an inner ear condition, concussion or a neurological disorder, we provide evidence-based assessment and rehabilitation tailored to your individual needs.
Appointments are available at our Essex and Cambridge clinics, as well as through home visits and virtual consultations, making specialist vestibular rehabilitation accessible wherever you are.
What to Expect
Your first appointment will involve a detailed discussion about your symptoms, medical history and the situations that trigger your dizziness. This will be followed by a comprehensive assessment of your eye movements, balance, walking and vestibular function. Where appropriate, we may perform positional tests to identify conditions such as BPPV.
Following your assessment, we will explain your diagnosis, answer any questions you may have and develop a personalised treatment programme. Many vestibular conditions improve significantly with targeted rehabilitation, and your exercises will be progressed as your symptoms improve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dizziness always caused by an inner ear problem?
No. Although many cases are related to the vestibular (inner ear) system, dizziness can also result from neurological conditions, concussion, migraines, cardiovascular problems and other medical conditions. A specialist assessment is important to identify the underlying cause.
Can physiotherapy stop my dizziness?
Many vestibular conditions respond very well to physiotherapy. Some people experience significant improvement after just one or two treatment sessions, while others benefit from a longer rehabilitation programme depending on the cause of their symptoms.
What if my dizziness has been present for months or years?
Even long-standing dizziness can often improve with the right diagnosis and rehabilitation. Many people develop ongoing symptoms because the brain has not fully compensated following an initial vestibular problem, and targeted exercises can help encourage recovery.
Do I need a referral?
No. You can self-refer directly to Greenacre Physio. We also accept referrals from GPs, ENT consultants, neurologists, audiologists and other healthcare professionals.
Book an Appointment
If you are experiencing dizziness, vertigo or balance problems and would like a specialist assessment, we're here to help. Book an appointment at one of our Essex or Cambridge clinics, arrange a home visit, or schedule a virtual consultation with one of our experienced vestibular physiotherapists.
Common Symptoms We Treat
- Spinning sensations (vertigo)
- General dizziness
- Balance problems
- Motion sensitivity
- Feeling unsteady when walking
- Dizziness when turning in bed
- Dizziness looking up or bending down
- Falls and reduced confidence
- Visual disturbance with head movement
- Persistent dizziness following concussion
- Dizziness associated with neurological conditions
Why Choose Greenacre Physio for Dizziness and Vertigo?
Dizziness is one of our specialist areas. Our clinicians have extensive experience working within specialist NHS vestibular and neurological services, assessing and treating a wide range of vestibular conditions using evidence-based techniques. We understand that dizziness can be frustrating, frightening and have a significant impact on everyday life.
Rather than simply treating the symptoms, we focus on identifying the underlying cause of your dizziness and providing the most appropriate rehabilitation. Whether your symptoms are caused by an inner ear disorder, concussion or a neurological condition, our goal is to help you regain your confidence, improve your balance and get back to doing the things you enjoy.