Dizzy Spells and Spinning Rooms: Can Physio Help with Vertigo?

When you hear "physiotherapy," you probably think of rehab exercises for sore backs, creaky knees, or tight shoulders. But here’s something most people don’t realise: physios can also help treat that dizzy, spinning sensation known as vertigo.

Yes—physio isn’t just for muscles and joints. In fact, it plays a key role in diagnosing and treating certain types of vertigo, especially one of the most common and treatable forms: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).

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What Exactly Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is more than just feeling dizzy. It’s the sensation that you or your surroundings are moving or spinning, even when you’re perfectly still. It’s often triggered by head movements—looking up, rolling over in bed, or even tilting your head.

Common symptoms of vertigo include:

• Spinning or swaying sensation

• Nausea or vomiting

• Imbalance or difficulty walking

• Blurred vision or light-headedness

Vertigo is usually caused by issues in the inner ear, which controls balance. That’s where physiotherapy steps in.

How Can Physiotherapy Help with Vertigo?

Not all vertigo is treatable with physio—but if yours is related to BPPV or vestibular dysfunction, physiotherapy can be extremely effective.

Here’s how:

1. Assessment and Diagnosis

Physios with training in vestibular rehab can assess your eye movements, balance, and symptoms to identify the likely cause of your vertigo.

Tests may include:

• The Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre (used to identify BPPV)

• Balance testing

• Visual tracking tests

  
  

2. Repositioning Manoeuvres

For BPPV, the gold-standard treatment is a series of guided head and body movements (like the Epley manoeuvre) that help reposition tiny calcium crystals that have moved into the wrong part of the inner ear.

These manoeuvres are fast, safe, and often highly effective—with many people feeling significant relief after just one or two sessions.

3. Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

For more persistent or complex vertigo, physios may use vestibular rehab exercises designed to retrain your brain and inner ear to adapt and compensate for imbalance.

This might include:

• Gaze stabilisation exercises

• Balance and coordination training

• Gradual exposure to triggering movements

  
  

Why See a Physio for Vertigo?

Unlike medication that may only mask symptoms, physiotherapy targets the root cause of the issue—restoring balance and reducing dizziness at its source. The goal is not just short-term relief, but long-term stability and confidence in your movements.

FAQs: Physio & Vertigo

Q: Is vertigo always treatable with physio? Not always. Physiotherapy is most effective for BPPV and vestibular dysfunction. Other causes of dizziness—like migraines, cardiovascular issues, or neurological conditions—require medical assessment and may need a different approach.

Q: How many physio sessions will I need? For BPPV, many people feel better after 1–3 sessions. For vestibular rehab, it may take a few weeks of guided therapy and home exercises to see full results.

Q: Do I need a referral to see a physio for vertigo? In most cases, no referral is needed. However, if you have unexplained or sudden onset vertigo, it’s important to rule out serious causes with your GP before starting treatment.

Q: Can vertigo come back after physio? It can—especially with BPPV. But if it does, many people know the signs and return for a quick treatment to reset things again.

Final Thoughts

Vertigo can be disorienting, frustrating, and even scary. But the good news is: help exists—and it doesn’t always mean medication or months of waiting.

If you're dealing with spinning sensations or balance issues, a physiotherapist trained in vestibular rehab can assess your symptoms and guide you through safe, targeted treatment.

Because life should feel stable—even when your schedule isn’t.

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