Vertigo & Dizziness Therapy at Home
Dizziness and vertigo can make the room spin, throw off your balance and make you afraid to move. Many causes of dizziness respond well to physical therapy, and some types of vertigo can improve quickly with the right treatment. We provide vestibular and balance therapy in your home.
Types of dizziness we help with
- BPPV, spinning when you roll over or look up
- Inner ear (vestibular) problems
- Dizziness that lingers after an illness
- Unsteadiness when walking or turning
- Dizziness linked to neck problems
- Imbalance from weakness or inactivity
What is BPPV?
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common causes of vertigo. Tiny crystals in the inner ear move out of place and send the wrong signals to the brain when you change head position. It often causes short bursts of spinning when you lie down, roll over in bed, look up or bend forward. A physical therapist can test for BPPV and use gentle repositioning maneuvers to guide the crystals back where they belong. Many people feel much better after just a few treatments.
How vestibular therapy helps
When the inner ear isn't working properly, the brain gets mixed signals about balance. Vestibular therapy uses specific exercises to help the brain adapt, so dizziness decreases and balance improves. We combine this with balance and walking training to help you move confidently again.
What treatment may include
- Testing for BPPV and repositioning maneuvers
- Gaze stabilization exercises
- Habituation exercises to reduce dizziness
- Balance training
- Walking practice, including turns and stairs
- Home safety tips to prevent falls
What to expect
- Evaluation at home. We ask when your dizziness happens and test your balance, eye movements and head positions.
- Treatment matched to the cause. Repositioning for BPPV, targeted exercises for other vestibular problems, or both.
- A home program. Simple exercises to keep improving between visits.
Frequently asked questions
Can physical therapy really help vertigo?
Yes. BPPV often responds quickly to repositioning maneuvers, and vestibular exercises help many other types of dizziness.
Why get vestibular therapy at home?
Traveling to a clinic while dizzy can be difficult and unsafe. At home, we also practice in the places where dizziness affects you most, like getting in and out of bed.
When should I get emergency help?
Call 911 if dizziness starts suddenly along with weakness, numbness, facial drooping, trouble speaking, double vision or a severe headache. These can be signs of a stroke.
Worried about falling?
See our balance disorders and fall prevention pages.
Medicare Part B accepted, plus Aetna Medicare, Independence Blue Cross and Keystone 65. We serve Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks County and Montgomery County.