That spinning sensation when you turn over in bed. The wave of nausea after looking up too quickly. The unsettling feeling of not quite trusting your own balance.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone and you’re not imagining it.
Dizziness and vertigo are among the most common reasons people seek medical help, yet they’re also among the most misunderstood. Many people are told it’s anxiety, tiredness, or stress. Sometimes it is, but often the cause is something more specific and very treatable.
What Is a Vestibular Disorder?
The vestibular system is the body’s balance network, made up of structures within the inner ear and the signals they send to the brain.
When something disrupts that system, the result can range from brief spinning episodes to persistent unsteadiness, nausea, and blurred vision during head movement. Some people describe it as feeling permanently “discombobulated”.
Common symptoms include:
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- A spinning sensation (vertigo)
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- Dizziness when turning in bed or looking upwards
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- Feeling unsteady while walking
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- Nausea or motion sensitivity
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- Blurred vision during head movement
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- Feeling “discombobulated”
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- Frequent falls or a fear of falling
One of the Most Common Culprits: BPPV
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) sounds complicated, but the mechanics are relatively straightforward.
Tiny calcium crystals inside the inner ear can become displaced and interfere with the balance signals travelling to the brain. The result is brief, but often intense, spinning episodes, typically triggered by specific head movements such as rolling over in bed or tilting the head upwards.
BPPV is one of the most common vestibular disorders in adults, and the good news is that it is well understood and often responds well to treatment.
Clinical guidelines recommend the Dix-Hallpike test when BPPV is suspected, followed by canalith repositioning techniques such as the Epley manoeuvre. This is a guided sequence of head movements designed to encourage the displaced crystals back into the correct position.
Vestibular suppressant medications may help reduce nausea in the short term, but they do not address the underlying mechanical cause of BPPV.
How Physiotherapy Can Help
At RehabLab, vestibular physiotherapy begins with a thorough assessment to understand what may be causing your symptoms.
Treatment is tailored to the individual and may include:
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- Vestibular assessment
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- Dix-Hallpike testing
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- Canalith repositioning manoeuvres (such as the Epley manoeuvre)
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- Balance retraining
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- Gaze stabilisation exercises
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- Habituation exercises
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- Falls prevention strategies
Research supports vestibular rehabilitation as an effective treatment approach for many peripheral vestibular conditions. Studies have shown it can help improve balance, reduce dizziness, and support a return to normal daily activities.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Attention
Not all dizziness is vestibular in origin. In some cases, it may indicate a more serious neurological or cardiovascular condition requiring immediate medical attention.
Seek urgent medical advice if you experience:
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- Sudden weakness or numbness
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- Slurred speech
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- Double vision
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- A severe or unusual headache
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- Sudden difficulty walking
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- Fainting
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- Chest pain
NICE guidance recommends urgent assessment for dizziness accompanied by focal neurological symptoms to help rule out conditions such as stroke.
If you are concerned about your symptoms, seek medical advice promptly.
Don’t Ignore Persistent Dizziness
Persistent dizziness can quietly shrink people’s lives. It may lead to avoiding car journeys, declining social invitations, reducing physical activity, or feeling less confident walking on uneven ground.
Early assessment can make a significant difference. Understanding the cause is often the first step towards effective management, and for many people, appropriate treatment can lead to meaningful improvements in symptoms and confidence.
If dizziness or vertigo is affecting your day-to-day life, a vestibular physiotherapy assessment at RehabLab may help identify the cause and guide appropriate management.
To find out more or book an appointment, contact our team or book online.
https://eubook.nookal.com/bookings/book/a83dcbDC-8E0C-aDB0-f2f2-52bbEDD0Eeed/location/WQUKY
References
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV).
https://www.entnet.org/quality-practice/quality-products/clinical-practice-guidelines/bppv
National Library of Medicine. Vestibular Rehabilitation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK572153
National Library of Medicine. Dizziness Assessment and Management.
