Feeling like the room is spinning or just a bit off-balance? These sensations affect millions of people every year, but they’re not the same thing. Many folks in Surrey and Fleetwood struggle with dizziness or vertigo and don’t realize that specialized treatment can make a real difference in getting back to normal life.
Vestibular rehabilitation is a proven physiotherapy approach that targets the root causes of balance problems and helps you regain stability through specific exercises and techniques. At Surrey 152 St Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic, this type of treatment has helped countless patients reduce their symptoms and feel confident moving through their day again.
Vertigo vs Dizziness: What’s the Difference?
Many people use these terms like they mean the same thing, but vertigo and dizziness are actually different experiences that need different treatments. Understanding what sets them apart helps you get the right care faster.
Symptoms That Set Vertigo Apart
Vertigo creates a false sense of movement when you’re standing still. You might feel like the room is spinning around you, or like you’re rotating even though you haven’t moved.
This spinning sensation is the main thing that separates vertigo from regular dizziness. With vertigo, you may also experience nausea, vomiting, or trouble keeping your balance.
Dizziness feels different. You might feel lightheaded, woozy, or unsteady on your feet. It’s more like feeling faint or off-balance without that specific spinning feeling.
Key differences include:
- Vertigo: Spinning sensation, feels like movement, often severe nausea
- Dizziness: Lightheadedness, floating feeling, general unsteadiness
- Duration: Vertigo episodes can last minutes to hours; dizziness varies widely
Common Causes for Vertigo and Dizziness
Vertigo often comes from problems in your inner ear. BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) happens when tiny crystals in your ear shift out of place. Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuritis, and labyrinthitis are other inner ear conditions that trigger vertigo.
Dizziness has different causes. Low blood pressure, dehydration, medications, anxiety, and blood sugar changes can all make you feel dizzy. Sometimes heart problems or anemia cause these symptoms too.
Your vestibular system controls balance through signals from your inner ear to your brain. When this system gets disrupted, you experience vertigo. Regular dizziness usually comes from issues outside this system.
Why an Accurate Diagnosis Matters
Getting the right diagnosis changes everything about your treatment plan. Vertigo treatment options at vestibular rehabilitation clinics in Fleetwood focus on specific exercises that retrain your balance system.
If you have BPPV, your physiotherapist can perform repositioning maneuvers that move those displaced crystals back where they belong. These treatments work quickly for many people!
Treating dizziness as vertigo (or the opposite) wastes your time and delays relief. A proper assessment at a dizziness physiotherapy Surrey clinic identifies exactly what’s causing your symptoms. Your therapist will test your eye movements, balance responses, and how you react to position changes.
Balance therapy programs get customized based on whether you have vertigo or dizziness. This targeted approach means faster results and better long-term outcomes for your daily activities.
How Vestibular Rehab at Surrey 152 St Physiotherapy Helps
Surrey 152 St Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic treats your vertigo and dizziness with specialized techniques that target the root causes of your balance problems. Your treatment plan addresses your specific symptoms while teaching you strategies to manage episodes and prevent future problems.
Personalized Vertigo Treatment Surrey Residents Can Trust
Your first visit involves a detailed assessment of your symptoms and balance system. The physiotherapist checks your eye movements, head position tolerance, and balance responses to identify exactly what’s causing your vertigo or dizziness.
This assessment reveals whether you have BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or another condition affecting your inner ear. You’ll get a treatment plan designed specifically for your diagnosis!
Your physiotherapist tracks your progress at each session and adjusts exercises based on how you respond. Some people need more challenging exercises sooner, while others benefit from a slower progression. The clinic’s approach means you’re never doing generic exercises that don’t match your needs.
Balance Therapy Techniques in Surrey BC
Canalith repositioning maneuvers treat BPPV by moving tiny calcium crystals in your inner ear back to their correct position. The Epley maneuver is the most common technique used at the clinic.
Gaze stabilization exercises train your eyes to stay focused while your head moves. You might practice reading letters on a card while turning your head side to side.
Balance training includes:
- Standing on foam pads with eyes closed
- Walking while turning your head
- Reaching exercises that challenge your stability
- Functional movements you use daily
Your physiotherapist also teaches habituation exercises that reduce your sensitivity to movements that trigger symptoms. These exercises involve repeated exposure to specific positions or movements in a controlled way.
Your Vestibular Rehabilitation Journey in Fleetwood
Most patients start vestibular physio at Allied Physiotherapy Surrey 152 St with twice-weekly sessions. Your first few appointments focus on reducing acute symptoms and teaching you home exercises.
You’ll spend 10-15 minutes daily doing your prescribed exercises at home. These exercises are just as important as your clinic visits for getting better.
As your symptoms improve, visits typically decrease to once weekly, then biweekly. The total treatment time varies based on your condition. BPPV often resolves in 1-4 sessions, while other vestibular conditions may need 6-12 weeks of therapy.
Your physiotherapist gives you written instructions and demonstrates each exercise multiple times. You can always call the clinic if you’re unsure about your home program.
Daily Life Benefits from Vestibular Physio
You’ll notice you can turn your head without feeling dizzy when checking blind spots while driving. Walking through busy stores becomes easier because your brain processes visual motion better.
Getting out of bed in the morning no longer triggers spinning sensations. You can look up at shelves or down at the floor without fear of losing your balance.
Many patients return to activities they’d stopped doing. Gardening, playing with grandchildren, and exercising all become possible again. Your confidence grows as you realize your symptoms are manageable and improving.