Feeling Dizzy? How Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Your Balance Again
By Dr. Steve Osovsky PT, DPT, MS, GCS
If you’ve ever felt like the room was spinning when you weren’t moving, or like your head takes a few extra seconds to “catch up” when you turn, you’re not alone. Dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance are surprisingly common, and they’re not just “a part of getting older.” These symptoms often come from issues in the vestibular system, and that’s where physical therapy can make a big difference.
What Is the Vestibular System?
The vestibular system lives inside your inner ear. It works with your eyes and muscles to help you stay balanced, steady, and oriented in space. When something throws this system off, whether it’s an inner ear infection, head injury, age-related changes, or even after a bad cold, you may experience:
Spinning sensations (vertigo)
Unsteadiness or imbalance
Lightheadedness or motion sensitivity
Blurred or “bouncy” vision when moving
Nausea or fatigue from head movements
These symptoms can make everyday activities, like walking, reading, driving, or even getting out of bed, feel overwhelming or unsafe.
How Physical Therapy Can Help
Physical therapists trained in vestibular rehabilitation can identify what’s causing your dizziness and create a personalized plan to restore your balance and confidence.
Here’s what you can expect:
1. Comprehensive Assessment
Your PT will perform a detailed evaluation that may include:
Eye movement and balance testing
Positional testing (to see if vertigo is triggered by certain head positions)
Walking and functional balance assessments
A review of your medical history and symptom patterns
These findings help determine whether your dizziness comes from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vestibular hypofunction, post-concussion effects, or another source. More to come on these presentations in future blog posts.
2. Targeted Treatment
Depending on your diagnosis, treatment may include:
Canalith repositioning maneuvers (for BPPV): gentle head movements that move tiny calcium crystals back where they belong.
Vestibular habituation exercises: to reduce dizziness through gradual exposure to triggering movements.
Gaze stabilization exercises: to improve eye–head coordination and reduce “visual bounce.”
Balance and gait training: to retrain your body’s ability to stay upright and steady on all surfaces.
Education and home exercises: empowering you to continue progress between visits.
Many patients notice improvement in just a few visits, while others benefit from a progressive program focused on rebuilding their balance and confidence over time.
When to Seek Help
If dizziness or imbalance lasts more than a few days, or if it interferes with your daily life, it’s worth getting checked. The sooner vestibular issues are identified, the faster and more completely they can be resolved.
The Bottom Line
Feeling dizzy, off-balance, or disconnected from your surroundings isn’t something you just have to live with. Vestibular rehabilitation is a safe, effective, and evidence-based approach that helps you retrain your brain, restore your balance, and regain your confidence.
If you or someone you know has been feeling “off,” reach out to Shore Strength Physical Therapy for an assessment. You don’t have to live life on shaky ground.