Dizziness and balance problems

One of the most common causes of vertigo is BPPV (benign paroxysmal postural vertigo). This is a condition where you get short episodes of vertigo (intense dizziness) when you move in certain directions. It is thought to be caused by tiny fragments of debris in the inner ear labyrinth.

The Epley manoeuvre is a simple treatment which involves moving the head in various positions to move the debris away from where it causes a problem.

Other balance issues caused by inner ear problems which lead to vestibular problems are:

Muscle weakness and unstable joints can cause loss of balance. We can asses your muscles and joints to establish where the problems lie and help with a rehab program.

Dizziness can be caused by neck issues. If this is the case, symptoms tend to respond well to some manual therapy.

Sometimes visual disturbances can lead to dizziness, light-headedness, unsteadiness and nausea. A gaze stabilisation program is useful in this case.

All above issues are caused by problems in the vestibular system and there is good evidence that a vestibular rehab program can help with symptoms.