Dizziness, feeling off-balance or experiencing a spinning sensation are symptoms that can have a significant impact on how you go about your day to day life.
In clinical practice, I’ve seen these symptoms present in a number of different ways. Sometimes they come on suddenly – one day, you go to bed feeling fine; the next day you wake up dizzy and possibly can’t get yourself out of bed. For others, symptoms develop gradually, but noticeably affect everyday activities like walking, driving, working or exercising.
Many people search for answers to dizziness and vertigo symptoms without knowing what’s actually causing them. An important first step in finding the right support for your particular presentation is understanding the different types of dizziness and related symptoms.
Common symptoms of dizziness and vertigo
Dizziness can present in different ways, depending on the underlying cause. Common symptoms include:
- A spinning sensation (often described by patients as vertigo)
- Feeling lightheaded or faint
- A sense of unsteadiness or imbalance when on your feet
- Difficulty focusing your vision when moving
- Symptoms triggered by head movements or position changes
- Nausea associated with movement
- Feeling worse in busy or visually stimulating environments
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you can learn more about our assessment and treatment options on our Vestibular Physiotherapy page.
What can cause these symptoms?
There are several possible causes of dizziness and vertigo. Some of the more common causes include:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Inner ear disturbances
- Neck-related (cervicogenic) dizziness
- Post-concussion symptoms
- Migraine-related dizziness
Because symptoms can overlap, it’s not always easy to identify the cause without a structured assessment. Where symptoms you may be experiencing do not require physiotherapy treatment, we can refer you to an appropriate therapist.
What to do if symptoms start to affect your daily life
There are a multitude of reasons an individual can experience dizziness or imbalance. When these issues affect people’s ability to perform daily activities, it is important to seek appropriate help in understanding what may be happening.
When dizziness and/or imbalance become a long standing issue with a seemingly unexplained cause, it can begin to impact a person’s:
- Confidence with movement
- Work and concentration
- Capacity to drive
- Ability to exercise and undertake physical activity.
In these cases, a clear assessment can help guide your next steps and reduce uncertainty and anxiety.
How Physiotherapy treatment may help
Physiotherapy can play a role in assessing and managing certain causes of dizziness and balance issues.
In practice, this begins with a structured assessment to better understand your symptoms and how your balance system is functioning.
This may include:
- Taking a detailed history of your symptoms
- Assessing balance, coordination and eye movements
- Identifying potential triggers
- Determining the most likely cause
How dizziness assessments are performed
A balance assessment may involve simple standing and walking tasks, such as changing your stance, walking in a straight line, or gently turning your head while upright. This helps identify how your body responds to movement and changes in position.
A coordination assessment looks at how well your body moves in a controlled and organised way. This can include simple arm or leg movements, or tasks that involve timing and accuracy.
An eye movement assessment focuses on how your eyes and inner ear work together. You may be asked to follow a moving target or maintain focus while your head moves. This helps assess how effectively your visual and vestibular systems are interacting.
If your symptoms are triggered by position changes, positional testing may also be performed. This involves guided movements, such as lying down or turning your head in specific directions, to assess for conditions like BPPV.
Throughout the assessment, everything is explained clearly so you understand what is being tested and why.
For more information on how this is managed, visit our Vestibular Physiotherapy page.
Will the assessment make me dizzy?
Depending on an individual’s cause of dizziness, there can be a variety of dizziness responses to testing. No test is ever done with the intention of causing severe dizziness, however, with specific conditions such as BPPV it may be necessary to cause dizziness to solve the issue.
All tests and maneuvers are explained thoroughly to ensure understanding and minimise any surprise of dizziness onset.
How long does it take to improve?
It’s not possible to give a specific timeframe for how long dizziness or vertigo symptoms will take to resolve. However, the underlying cause of your symptoms and how long they’ve been present, can help guide what to expect.
Some conditions, such as BPPV, can improve quickly with appropriate treatment. Others may require a more gradual approach over a number of sessions, particularly if symptoms have been ongoing or are linked to multiple factors.
During your initial assessment our team will guide you through what to expect based on your particular presentation, including how your symptoms may change over time and what you can do between sessions to support your progress.
Our approach focuses on steady, sustainable progress, helping you feel more confident and stable in your day-to-day movement.
When to seek help for dizziness and vertigo
You may benefit from an assessment if:
- Your symptoms have been ongoing for more than a few days
- You have experienced repeated episodes of vertigo over the past few months
- You feel unsteady or at risk of falling
- The symptoms you are experiencing are affecting the daily activities you participate in
If your symptoms are sudden, severe, or associated with other neurological symptoms such as sudden limb weakness, double vision, or speech disruptions, you should seek urgent medical attention.
Seeking the right support for your presentation
At Balance Physio, we provide assessment and support for the management of dizziness, vertigo and balance-related conditions.
If you’re unsure what’s causing your symptoms, starting with a clear assessment can help you better understand your options and next steps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between dizziness and vertigo?
Dizziness is a broad term that can describe feeling lightheaded, faint, unsteady or off-balance. Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that usually feels like spinning or movement, even when you are still.
What are common symptoms of vestibular issues?
Common symptoms can include vertigo, dizziness, feeling off-balance, nausea with movement, difficulty focusing vision, unsteadiness when walking, and symptoms triggered by head movement or position changes.
Can physiotherapy help with dizziness and vertigo?
Physiotherapy may help with certain causes of dizziness and vertigo through assessment, targeted treatment and movement-based rehabilitation.
What happens during a vestibular physiotherapy assessment?
A vestibular assessment usually includes a discussion of your symptoms, along with testing of balance, coordination, eye movements and positional triggers where appropriate.
Will a vestibular assessment make me feel dizzy?
Yes, some tests can make you feel dizzy, but all tests and potential triggers for dizziness will be explained prior to their administration.
When should I seek help for dizziness or vertigo?
It may be worth seeking assessment if symptoms persist, recur, affect daily activities, or develop after a concussion or neck injury.
About the Author
Ana Minguez Zuazo is a Senior Physiotherapist at Balance Physio with over 10 years’ experience in Women’s Health, pelvic health, and musculoskeletal rehabilitation, supporting clients with personalised, evidence-based care.
