Dizziness, Vertigo and Balance Problems: How Vestibular Physiotherapy Can Help

Feeling dizzy or unsteady can be unsettling. For many people, it slowly starts to limit what they feel comfortable doing day to day.

You might notice symptoms when walking in busy places, turning your head, scrolling on your phone, bending down, exercising, or getting out of bed. A lot of people tell us it’s these everyday moments, rather than big movements, that knock their confidence the most.

Dizziness is common, and often misunderstood

We regularly see people in our Exeter Physio clinic who have been told their scans are “normal”, have seen multiple professionals without clear answers, or feel unsure whether they should push through symptoms or avoid movement altogether.

What we often find is that the issue isn’t structural damage. It’s how the balance system is functioning. That is something that can be assessed and worked with.

Many causes of dizziness respond well to the right kind of rehabilitation.

What is vestibular physiotherapy?

Vestibular physiotherapy looks at how your balance system is actually working, not just what shows up on scans or tests.

Your sense of balance relies on information from your inner ear, your eyes, your muscles and joints, and how your nervous system processes all of that information. If one part of that system is under-performing, or the brain is struggling to integrate the signals properly, symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo or unsteadiness can develop.

In simple terms, vestibular physiotherapy helps to identify what is contributing to your symptoms and supports your nervous system to adapt so that everyday movements feel safer and more manageable again.

How vestibular physiotherapy can help

Over time, people often notice improvements in dizziness, balance and steadiness when walking, confidence with movement and daily activities, tolerance of busy or visually stimulating environments, and clarity of vision during head movement.

There isn’t a single set of exercises that works for everyone. Rehabilitation is tailored to the individual and progressed at a pace that reflects how your symptoms respond.

Do you need a diagnosis first?

No. You don’t need to arrive with a confirmed diagnosis to be assessed however;

If your symptoms are new, worsening, or accompanied by red flag signs such as severe headache, sudden weakness, changes in speech or vision, chest pain, or fainting, we would advise seeing your GP or seeking urgent medical advice before booking physiotherapy.

Part of the role of vestibular physiotherapy is to help identify what may be driving your symptoms and whether vestibular rehabilitation is appropriate for you.

This approach may help people experiencing dizziness or vertigo, feeling unsteady or off balance, motion sensitivity, balance problems or falls, dizziness following illness, concussion or whiplash, and neck pain associated with dizziness.

What happens in an appointment?

Appointments are calm, thorough and unhurried, with time to ask questions and make sense of what you are experiencing.

Your physiotherapist will take time to understand your symptoms and how they affect daily life, carry out appropriate screening to ensure it is safe to proceed, assess balance, walking, eye and head movement where relevant, and explain findings clearly before developing a personalised rehabilitation plan.

Not all tests are needed for everyone, and everything is explained as you go.

Is vestibular physiotherapy safe?

Yes. Vestibular physiotherapy is evidence based and carefully progressed.

Exercises are chosen and adjusted based on your symptoms and tolerance, aiming to challenge the system without overwhelming it. The goal is to help you feel safer and more confident as you move.

Vestibular physiotherapy in Exeter

At Quay Kinetics Physio, we offer vestibular physiotherapy and dizziness rehabilitation at our Boulder Exe clinic in Exeter.

This service is suitable for people with both recent and long-standing symptoms, and no GP referral is required.

When should you seek help?

If dizziness or balance problems are affecting your confidence, limiting daily activities, stopping you from exercising or socialising, or lingering without clear improvement, it may be time to seek specialist support.

Dizziness isn’t something you should just put up with, especially when it is affecting day-to-day life.

Ready to feel steadier?

With the right assessment and the right exercises, many people start to feel steadier and more confident than they expected.

You can learn more or book an initial vestibular assessment here:
https://www.quaykineticsphysio.co.uk/vestibular-rehab