Physical Therapy for Vertigo | PT and Chiropractor of Miami, FL

If you’ve ever felt like the room is spinning, even while standing still, you may be experiencing vertigo. It’s a disorienting sensation that can interfere with your balance, mobility, and daily routine. Fortunately, physical therapy offers safe, effective relief for many types of vertigo, often without the need for medication.

So, what physical therapy can you do for vertigo? At PT & Chiro Miami, our licensed physical therapists specialize in treating vertigo with targeted exercises and maneuvers designed to retrain your balance system and restore stability.

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is more than just dizziness. It’s a specific type of spinning or tilting sensation caused by issues in the inner ear or vestibular system, which controls balance and spatial orientation. The most common causes of vertigo include:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis
Meniere’s disease
Vestibular migraine
Head injuries

Symptoms may include spinning sensations, loss of balance, nausea, eye movement issues, and trouble focusing.

How Physical Therapy Helps with Vertigo

Physical therapy for vertigo is designed to treat the underlying vestibular dysfunction. A trained therapist uses specific exercises and manual techniques to reposition crystals in the inner ear, retrain the brain to adapt to movement, and strengthen balance.

Here’s a breakdown of what physical therapy you can do for vertigo, depending on the cause:

Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers (for BPPV)

BPPV is one of the most common and treatable forms of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals (otoconia) in your inner ear become dislodged and disrupt balance signals. Your physical therapist may guide you through techniques like:

Epley Maneuver
Semont Maneuver
Gufoni Maneuver

These maneuvers involve a series of controlled head and body movements designed to move the crystals back into place, reducing or eliminating vertigo episodes.

Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT)

For other causes of vertigo, such as vestibular neuritis or Meniere’s disease, therapists use Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT). VRT includes:

Gaze stabilization exercises to help your eyes and brain adjust to head movement
Balance training to reduce fall risk and improve stability
Habituation exercises to reduce sensitivity to motion

VRT is tailored to each patient’s needs and progress and is backed by strong clinical evidence.

Balance and Strength Exercises

Vertigo often affects balance, which increases the risk of falling. A physical therapist may incorporate:

Static and dynamic balance exercises
Gait training
Core and lower-body strengthening

These exercises are critical for retraining your body’s balance system and helping you move confidently again.

Breathing and Relaxation Techniques

Some patients with vertigo experience anxiety or panic in response to dizziness. Physical therapy may include relaxation techniques, controlled breathing, and posture awareness to help manage symptoms and reduce tension.

What to Expect During Physical Therapy for Vertigo

At PT & Chiro Miami, your treatment starts with a comprehensive evaluation of your symptoms, medical history, eye movements, and balance tests. Based on your diagnosis, we’ll create a personalized treatment plan that may include one or more of the techniques above.

Many patients, especially those with BPPV, experience improvement within just a few sessions. However, long-term conditions may require more extensive care.

Who Should Consider Physical Therapy for Vertigo?

Physical therapy is an excellent choice if you:

Have recurring episodes of vertigo or dizziness
Were diagnosed with BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or Meniere’s disease
Experience balance problems or falls
Want a non-invasive, medication-free treatment

Early treatment often leads to faster recovery and reduces the chance of vertigo returning.

Find Expert Vertigo Treatment at PT & Chiro Miami

If you're searching for answers about what physical therapy you can do for vertigo, our PT & Chiro Miami team is here to help. We specialize in evidence-based vestibular therapy to restore balance, comfort, and confidence.