For many people, vertigo and dizziness are considered the same issue. However, they are actually separate problems that happen to occur together. 

Vertigo is a sensation that your surroundings are moving when they shouldn’t be, and it’s often described as a spinning sensation. Dizziness is the result of a misinterpretation in the brain of the orientation between the body and its surroundings. This tends to cause symptoms like feelings of faintness or unsteadiness, and dizziness can trigger incidents of vertigo. If you experience these two issues, you may be looking for ways to stop feeling dizzy. The first step in this journey is to learn the cause of your dizziness and vertigo. 

What causes dizziness and vertigo?

Dizziness and vertigo are two of the most common balance-related issues. In fact, researchers report that between 15% and 20% of adults experience these two issues every year. Some of the conditions that can lead to episodes of dizziness and vertigo are: 

• Migraines
• Inner ear infections
• Strokes
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)

How can vestibular therapy help you stop feeling dizzy?

Wondering how a physical therapist can help you stop feeling dizzy? A type of physical therapy called vestibular therapy is an effective treatment for dizziness and vertigo. A physical therapist will perform tests to determine what’s causing these issues. They’ll then create a vestibular therapy plan with the goal of reducing the symptoms of dizziness and vertigo and getting you moving again. 

A vestibular therapy plan can include several different treatment methods, and three of the most commonly used methods include: 

1. Epley maneuver — This technique is also known as the canalith repositioning procedure. The Epley maneuver is primarily used for BPPV, and it involves moving your head in ways that help reposition the loose calcium carbonate crystals in your inner ear. Researchers report that the Epley maneuver treatments have a success rate of more than 95%. 

2. Brandt-Daroff exercises — These exercises are typically used to treat patients with BPPV and labyrinthitis. Brandt-Daroff exercises involve moving from an upright position to lying on your side with the head tilted at about a 45-degree angle. One medical study shows that these exercises have an up to 98% success rate for BPPV patients. 

3. Gaze stabilization exercises — This treatment method is intended to reduce the eye-focusing issues often caused by dizziness and vertigo. The exercises do so by helping to retrain the brain to refocus the eyes during head movements that cause these symptoms. A study on gaze stabilization exercises in older adults reveals that they helped reduce fall risk by 90%. 

Trying to figure out how to stop feeling dizzy? Continuum Wellness can help

Are you ready to start working with a physical therapist who can help you figure out how to stop feeling dizzy? Our therapy specialists at Continuum Wellness are ready and willing to help you. We offer free screenings that can reveal the source of your dizziness and vertigo. Our team will then build you an individualized vestibular therapy plan designed to reduce them. 

Continuum Wellness is currently offering virtual care and at-home therapy services that can help you get the therapy you need without leaving your home. Even better, you can use any of our therapy services without getting a doctor’s referral first. 

Contact our team today for more information about vestibular therapy or to schedule an initial appointment.