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Dizziness and Balance Disorders (Including BPPV)

Find effective relief from dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems with personalised, evidence-based care focused on restoring stability, improving confidence, and reducing the risk of falls.

Understanding Dizziness and Balance

Dizziness and balance difficulties are common and often distressing symptoms that can arise from the vestibular system (inner ear), cervical spine, visual system, or central nervous system. Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vestibular dizziness and responds dramatically well to specific repositioning treatment. Cervicogenic dizziness — arising from cervical spine dysfunction — is another common and highly treatable cause.

Dizziness and Balance Disorders Causes

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) – displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear causing brief, intense spinning with position changes.
  • Cervicogenic dizziness – arising from cervical joint or muscle dysfunction.
  • Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis – viral inflammation of the vestibular nerve.
  • Meniere’s disease – recurrent episodes of vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing changes.
  • Age-related balance decline – reduced multisensory input.
  • Medication side effects affecting vestibular function or blood pressure.
  • Central causes (stroke, migraine) – requiring medical investigation.

Symptoms

  • A sensation of spinning or movement (vertigo).
  • Light-headedness or unsteadiness with position changes.
  • Nausea associated with dizziness.
  • Difficulty walking or fear of falling.
  • Visual disturbance during head movement.
  • Dizziness with neck movements (cervicogenic).
Urgent red flags: sudden onset severe headache with dizziness, double vision, difficulty swallowing, facial numbness, or limb weakness. Seek emergency assessment immediately.

Treatment

Physiotherapy is the primary and most effective treatment for most vestibular and balance disorders.
  • Canalith Repositioning Manoeuvres (e.g., Epley manoeuvre) – highly effective for BPPV and typically resolves symptoms in one to three sessions.
  • Vestibular rehabilitation – including gaze stabilisation, habituation, and balance retraining exercises.
  • Cervical spine treatment for cervicogenic dizziness.
  • Balance and fall prevention training.
  • Education on activity modification and safety during recovery.
  • Coordination with your medical team for Meniere’s disease or central causes.

Rehabilitation & Exercise

Caution: Perform all exercises only as directed by your Healthweave clinician. Stop any exercise that increases your pain and inform your practitioner. Exercise programs are tailored to individual needs and must not be self-prescribed.
Vestibular rehabilitation is tailored to your specific type of dizziness. The exercises may initially provoke mild dizziness — this is expected and is how the brain adapts. All vestibular exercises are progressed under clinician supervision.
  • Gaze stabilisation exercises – focusing on a fixed target during head movement to retrain the vestibulo-ocular reflex.
  • Habituation exercises – controlled, graded exposure to movements that provoke dizziness.
  • Static and dynamic balance training – progressing from simple standing to challenging surfaces and dual-task conditions.
  • Cervical mobility and deep neck flexor exercises – where cervicogenic dizziness is present.
  • Falls prevention training – including appropriate footwear, home safety, and strengthening exercises.

Specialist & Regenerative Medicine Options

For SIJ pain that is severe, persistent, or confirmed on diagnostic injection, our Prestidge sports physicians can offer targeted treatments to manage pain and address joint pathology.
  • SIJ Corticosteroid Injections – fluoroscopy or ultrasound-guided injections provide effective pain relief where inflammation is the primary driver.
  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) – image-guided PRP injection into the SIJ may reduce inflammation and support joint health.
  • Prolotherapy – well-established for SIJ laxity and instability, particularly in post-partum presentations.
  • Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) – for chronic confirmed SIJ pain, lateral branch ablation can provide extended relief.
  • Stem Cell Therapy – for degenerative SIJ disease within TGA guidelines.
Our sports and exercise physicians at Prestidge work alongside your treating clinician to determine the most appropriate option for your condition, goals, and stage of recovery. All injectable and prescription treatments are subject to individual clinical assessment. Visit healthweave.com.au or prestidge.com to learn more.
Important: All specialist consultations, prescription treatments, and injectable procedures are subject to individual clinical assessment by a registered medical practitioner. Suitability, benefits, and risks will be discussed at your consultation. No outcomes are guaranteed. Prescription medicines are only available following appropriate medical review in accordance with TGA and AHPRA requirements. Exercise programs should be performed only as directed by your Healthweave clinician. Exercise images © CPDO / Educom Pty. Ltd. — used under licence.