Vertigo/Dizziness
Understanding the Difference — and How Physical Therapy Can Help
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a false sensation of spinning or movement. You may feel like:
- The room is spinning
- You are tilting or swaying
- The ground is moving beneath you
Vertigo is often related to problems in the inner ear (vestibular system), which controls balance.
What Is Dizziness?
Dizziness is a broader term that can describe:
- Lightheadedness
- Feeling faint
- Unsteadiness
- Imbalance while walking
- A “foggy” or off-balance sensation
Not all dizziness is vertigo, but both can significantly affect daily life.
Common Causes
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Inner ear dysfunction
- Vestibular neuritis
- Concussion
- Migraine
- Neck problems
- Age-related balance decline
How a Physical Therapist Can Help
Vestibular physical therapists are specially trained to evaluate and treat vertigo and balance disorders using safe, evidence-based techniques.
Treatment May Include:
- Canalith repositioning maneuvers (to treat BPPV)
- Vestibular rehabilitation exercises to retrain the brain and inner ear
- Gaze stabilization exercises to improve visual focus during movement
- Balance and walking training
- Neck mobility and strengthening if symptoms are cervicogenic
- Fall prevention strategies
When to Seek Physical Therapy
- Spinning when rolling in bed or looking up
- Persistent imbalance
- Recent falls
- Ongoing dizziness after concussion
- Avoiding movement due to symptoms
The Bottom Line
Vertigo and dizziness are common — but they are highly treatable. Physical therapy can help reduce symptoms, restore balance, and get you back to moving confidently.
