Vestibular and Dizziness Conditions

Relief from vestibular and dizziness conditions in Papworth Everard, Cambridgeshire:
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Unexpected dizziness can be a disconcerting and sometimes scary experience. Physiotherapy is a highly effective treatment option for alleviating the severity and frequency of dizziness and vertigo episodes associated with various conditions. This form of physiotherapy is called Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy.​
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Your vestibular system is a sensory system which comprises of parts of your inner ear and brain. It is responsible for controlling balance and giving you spatial orientation. Damage to this system can lead to dizziness, visual problems and difficulty with balance. Damage and symptoms can be temporary, however sometimes they are permanent. By employing tailored exercises and techniques, physiotherapists can help your body and brain to retrain itself to compensate for the damage, improving balance and coordination, and ultimately enhancing your quality of life.​
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Below are just some of the vestibular and dizziness conditions our expert team treats. Our dedicated team is committed to helping you move confidently from pain to peak performance.
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Please note: Vestibular/dizziness rehabilitation is offered by Elizabeth Watson-Rose.
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a common inner ear condition that causes brief episodes of dizziness or a spinning sensation when the head moves in certain positions, such as lying down, getting out of bed, or tilting the head backward. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the wrong area. When you change head position, these crystals shift, sending incorrect signals to the brain and triggering dizziness. The good news is that BPPV is highly treatable. Physiotherapy uses specific repositioning techniques, such as the Epley manoeuvre, to guide the crystals back to their correct position. This is often combined with tailored exercises to help your brain, eyes, and inner ear work together effectively, reducing dizziness, improving balance, and restoring your confidence in movement.
Vestibular Neuritis / Peripheral Labyrinthitis
Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis are inner ear conditions that affect balance and can cause significant dizziness. Vestibular neuritis occurs when the vestibular nerve, which connects the inner ear to the brain, becomes inflamed. This disrupts balance signals, leading to sudden, intense vertigo, dizziness, and unsteadiness, but typically does not affect hearing. Labyrinthitis, on the other hand, involves inflammation of the inner ear’s labyrinth, which controls both balance and hearing. As a result, it can cause vertigo alongside hearing loss and/or tinnitus (ringing in the ears). Physiotherapy plays a vital role in recovery. Through tailored vestibular rehabilitation exercises, we help retrain your brain and nervous system to adapt, reducing dizziness, improving balance, and supporting a faster, more confident return to normal activities.
Migraine Related Vertigo
Migraine-related vertigo is a condition often experienced by individuals with migraines, causing episodes of dizziness, imbalance, or a spinning sensation. These symptoms can occur alongside a migraine headache or independently, and may significantly disrupt daily activities and overall quality of life. Triggers can vary and may include stress, sleep disturbances, certain foods, or changes in routine. Symptoms often fluctuate, making accurate assessment and targeted management essential. Physiotherapy plays a key role in treatment. Through tailored vestibular rehabilitation exercises, we help retrain your brain and nervous system to better process balance signals, reducing dizziness, improving stability, and supporting a safe, confident return to normal daily activities.
Cervicogenic Dizziness
Cervicogenic dizziness is a condition where dizziness or a sense of imbalance originates from issues in the neck, particularly the cervical spine. It is often linked to neck injuries, muscle tension, poor posture, or age-related changes in the joints. Symptoms may include a feeling of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or disorientation, often accompanied by neck pain or stiffness. These sensations can interfere with daily activities and overall confidence in movement. Physiotherapy plays a key role in treatment, using hands-on techniques to improve joint mobility and reduce muscle tension, alongside targeted exercises to retrain balance and coordination. This combined approach helps reduce dizziness, restore stability, and support a safe, confident return to everyday activities.
How Can Physiotherapy Help?
Physiotherapy for vestibular and dizziness conditions focuses on relieving symptoms and restoring function through a combination of hands-on treatment and targeted rehabilitation. This may include joint mobilisation, soft tissue massage, taping, acupuncture, and tailored exercise programmes including vestibular rehabilitation exercises.
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Our physiotherapists will also empower you with practical strategies to support your recovery, such as specific stretches, strengthening and vestibular rehabilitation exercises to prevent recurrence. We provide expert guidance on managing workload, incorporating effective breaks, and reducing strain during daily activities and exercise. Where appropriate, we can also advise on posture correction and recommend ergonomic solutions to support long-term vestibular health.
