Understanding Why It Happens and How Physical Therapy Can Help
Have you ever stood up too quickly, rolled over in bed, or tilted your head back and suddenly felt the world spin? You’re not alone. Dizziness is one of the most common complaints people bring to their doctors. But did you know that not all dizziness is vertigo? Understanding what’s really happening inside your body is the first step toward finding relief.
At Better With Physical Therapy, we recently hosted a community workshop called “Decoding Your Dizziness,” led by one of our vestibular specialists. Here’s what we covered and what you should know if dizziness keeps disrupting your daily life.
What’s the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo?
People often use “dizzy” and “vertigo” interchangeably, but they describe two very different sensations.
- Dizziness is an internal feeling, a sense that your head is light, foggy, or that you’re “off balance.”
- Vertigo, on the other hand, is a false sense of motion, a hallucination that the world around you is spinning or moving.
Vertigo episodes, such as those caused by Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), tend to be short (lasting 10–15 seconds) but intense. Other forms of dizziness may linger for minutes, hours, or even days.
Why Do We Get Dizzy?
There are many possible causes of dizziness, and only some are related to the inner ear. Common contributors include:
- Inner Ear or Nerve Issues: Such as BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or changes to the balance nerve
- Vision Changes: Poor visual tracking or outdated prescriptions can confuse the brain’s sense of position
- Neck and Joint Stiffness: Especially as we age, stiffness or arthritis in the neck can alter balance signals
- Blood Pressure Fluctuations: Both high and low blood pressure can cause dizziness
- Medications or Infections: Some prescriptions or even a simple ear infection can trigger temporary dizziness
- Neurological Causes: Conditions like stroke, neuropathy, or changes in the nervous system may also contribute
The key takeaway? Dizziness is not one-size-fits-all. Understanding what’s causing yours is essential for proper treatment.
Why Physical Therapy?
You might be surprised to learn that physical therapists are specialists in treating dizziness and balance disorders. A vestibular-trained PT evaluates how your eyes, inner ears, and body communicate with your brain to maintain balance.
Through testing and observation, we identify which system, or combination of systems, isn’t working properly. From there, we design an individualized plan to retrain your brain and body.
How Dizziness Improves: The Science of Habituation
Here’s one of the biggest “aha” moments from our workshop: avoiding movements that make you dizzy can actually make things worse.
When dizziness occurs, many people stop turning their heads quickly or lying on certain sides to prevent symptoms. However, the brain needs exposure to these movements to adapt. In therapy, we gently and safely reintroduce those motions, allowing your body to habituate (or get used to) the sensation again. Over time, your tolerance improves, and your symptoms decrease.
Treatment Approaches We Use
Physical therapy for dizziness and vertigo may include:
- Positional Maneuvers: Specific movements, such as the Epley maneuver, to reposition inner ear crystals in cases of BPPV
- Adaptation and Habituation Exercises: Repeated head, neck, or body movements to help the brain adjust to motion triggers
- Vision and Eye Exercises: Designed to improve how your eyes track movement and process visual information
- Neck Strengthening and Mobility Work: Especially for those with stiffness or cervical-related dizziness
- Cardiovascular Conditioning: To improve circulation and reduce dizziness related to blood pressure changes
- Balance and Proprioception Training: Exercises that retrain how your body senses position, such as standing on foam or walking over uneven surfaces
Each treatment plan is customized because everyone’s dizziness story is different.
Will Dizziness Go Away Completely?
It depends on the cause:
- Yes: If it’s related to BPPV, many patients improve dramatically in just one to three sessions
- No: Some chronic neurological or systemic conditions may cause ongoing dizziness, but physical therapy can reduce how often and how strongly symptoms occur
- Maybe: For fluctuating or intermittent causes, therapy helps you manage and control symptoms so they don’t disrupt your life
The ultimate goal is to give you the tools and understanding to manage dizziness on your own so you can return to doing what you love confidently and safely.
The “Three-Legged Stool” of Balance
Think of your balance system like a three-legged stool. Each leg represents:
- Your inner ear (vestibular system)
- Your vision
- Your muscles and joints
If one “leg” weakens, your balance becomes unsteady. Physical therapy helps identify which area needs attention and provides targeted exercises to strengthen all three systems.
Real Stories, Real Results
Throughout our workshop, participants shared experiences ranging from motion sensitivity and post-infection dizziness to challenges with balance as they age. The discussion highlighted one universal truth: balance and dizziness issues are complex, but treatable.
Many attendees were relieved to learn that dizziness doesn’t have to mean giving up their favorite activities like golf, exercise, or travel. With the right guidance, it’s possible to retrain your system and regain confidence in your movement.
Ready to Feel Steadier?
If dizziness, vertigo, or imbalance is limiting your daily life, physical therapy may be your next step. At Better With Physical Therapy, our vestibular specialists perform thorough assessments and create personalized treatment plans to help you regain stability, confidence, and peace of mind.
Contact us at 973-270-7417 or stop by our clinic in Madison, NJ, today to schedule your vestibular evaluation.
Let’s work together to decode your dizziness and help you feel better, move better, and live better.