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Vestibular Physiotherapy

Vestibular Physiotherapy

Vestibular physiotherapy is an area of physio that helps people experiencing dizziness, vertigo, headaches, migraines and balance issues. These symptoms often stem from the inner ear or brain and they can be frustrating, unsettling and even debilitating.

While some of our Life Ready Physio + Pilates clinics have physiotherapists with specialised vestibular training, all of our physiotherapists can help manage neck tension, postural imbalances and movement issues, along with other common vestibular symptoms like BPPV and cerviogenic dizziness.

If your condition needs more specialised input from a trained vestibular physiotherapist, we’ll direct you to the most appropriate practitioner, but there’s plenty we can do to get started straight away.

Common conditions we can help treat

  • Vertigo and dizziness 
  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) 
  • Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis 
  • Balance issues or unsteadiness 
  • Motion sensitivity 
  • Post-concussion or motor vehicle accident dizziness 
  • Meniere’s disease 
  • Vestibular hypo/hyperfunction 
  • Persistent postural perceptual dizziness (PPPD) 
  • Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (that “still-on-the-boat” feeling after travel) 

Who can benefit from vestibular physiotherapy?

Vestibular physiotherapy can help if you: 

  • Feel dizzy, lightheaded or off-balance 
  • Experience spinning sensations like vertigo 
  • Have trouble walking in busy or visually complex environments 
  • Notice dizziness when moving your head or changing positions 
  • Are recovering from concussion, an inner ear condition or experience migraines  

What to expect at your appointment

At your first appointment, we’ll take time to understand your history, symptoms, triggers and goals. Your physiotherapist may assess your eye movements, balance, head movements and walking patterns, and use specialised tests or Frenzel goggles help spot any abnormal eye movements that might be causing your dizziness or balance problems.

From there, they will will develop a tailored treatment plan which may include: 

  • Repositioning techniques to help treat vertigo  
  • Gaze and eye tracking exercises 
  • Balance retraining exercises to improve stability 
  • Neck treatment and manual therapy (alongside techniques like dry needling) if your dizziness is related to tension or stiffness 
  • Education and strategies to help manage your symptoms in your daily life 

Please allow 40 minutes for an initial consult, and up to 30 minutes for any follow ups. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do I need a referral?
To good news is no, so you can book in directly with us and be seen at the earliest convenience. It’s always best to mention your symptoms to us when you make your booking so we can assign the most appropriate physiotherapist to you to help with your vestibular concerns.
If more specialised support from a trained vestibular physiotherapist is needed, we’ll point you in the right direction.

2. Is vestibular physiotherapy safe?
Yes. All assessments and treatments are tailored to your symptoms and comfort level and our Life Ready physiotherapists are trained to guide you through exercises and techniques gently and safely. They will closely monitor you throughout your session, but if at any time you feel discomfort, we encourage you to let your physiotherapist know

3. How much is a vestibular physiotherapy consultation?
Each of our clinics is a little different, and so are our people. We’re proud to have physiotherapists with a wide range of experience and special interests, which means pricing may vary slightly between locations.

For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing, we recommend contacting your preferred Life Ready Physio + Pilates clinic directly.

If you have private health insurance, rebates may apply depending on your level of cover. We suggest checking with your health fund before your appointment. Alternatively, we can provide an on-the-spot quote in clinic using your private health card and HICAPS.

4. Get back on your feet
Simply phone your closest Life Ready Physio + Pilates clinic, making sure to mention vestibular physiotherapy and your symptoms to our admin team and let us help you get back on your feet again.

We accept all private health funds, MVA, DVA or Worker’s Compensation referrals, and Medicare plans