Dizzy spells. Spinning sensations. Feeling like the room is moving around you—even when you’re standing still.
If this sounds familiar, you might be experiencing vertigo. While many people think of vertigo as simply feeling dizzy, it’s a specific type of dizziness with distinct causes and treatments.
In this article, we’ll explore what vertigo is, its most common causes, how to know when it’s time to seek help, and what treatment options are available to help you find lasting relief.
What Is Vertigo?
Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, even when you’re stationary. It’s not a condition on its own, but a symptom of an underlying issue, usually involving the inner ear or the brain’s balance centres.
Vertigo can range from mild and fleeting to intense and debilitating. It may occur in short episodes or persist over hours, even days.
Common Vertigo Symptoms
Vertigo presents in different ways for different people.
Common vertigo symptoms include:
- A feeling that you or your environment is spinning or moving
- Loss of balance or unsteadiness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sweating or light-headedness
- Headache or ear pressure
- Difficulty focusing your eyes
- Feeling like you’re being pulled to one side
If you’re wondering how to tell which ear is causing vertigo, it often becomes clearer during diagnostic tests such as the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre used by healthcare professionals.
What Causes Vertigo?
There are multiple potential vertigo causes, most of which relate to problems in the vestibular system—the part of the inner ear that controls balance.
Some of the most common conditions include:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
This is the most common type of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals (otoconia) inside the ear become dislodged, affecting the inner ear’s ability to sense movement.
- Symptoms: Sudden, short episodes of vertigo triggered by changes in head position (e.g., rolling over in bed, looking up).
- Treatment: Canalith repositioning techniques like the Epley manoeuvre, often performed by a physiotherapist trained in BPPV treatment.
Vestibular Neuritis or Labyrinthitis
These viral infections affect the vestibular nerve (neuritis) or both the nerve and cochlea (labyrinthitis).
- Symptoms: Sudden, severe vertigo that lasts for hours or days, often with nausea, imbalance, and sometimes hearing loss.
- Treatment: Medication and vestibular rehabilitation exercises to retrain balance.
Meniere’s Disease
A chronic condition that affects the inner ear and can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
- Symptoms: Recurring vertigo attacks, fluctuating hearing loss, ear fullness.
- Treatment: Diet changes, medication, and physiotherapy for balance retraining.
Migraine-Associated Vertigo
Some people experience vertigo as part of a migraine episode, even without the typical headache.
- Symptoms: Dizziness, nausea, sensitivity to light/sound.
- Treatment: Migraine management and balance-focused physio support.
How Long Does Vertigo Last?
A common question is: How long should vertigo last? The answer depends on the cause:
- BPPV: Seconds to minutes per episode. Treatable in 1–3 physio sessions.
- Vestibular neuritis: Can last hours to days; may take weeks to fully recover.
- Meniere’s: Episodes may last 20 minutes to several hours, recurring over months or years.
- Migraine-related vertigo: Can last minutes to hours, often in patterns.
If vertigo lasts more than a few days or impacts your daily life, it’s time to seek help.
When Should You Seek Help for Vertigo?
You should consult a healthcare professional if:
- Your vertigo is frequent, intense, or long-lasting
- You experience hearing loss or tinnitus
- You feel unsteady walking or standing
- You’re unsure of the cause
- Your symptoms are interfering with daily activities
- You want to know how to get rid of vertigo safely and effectively
Early diagnosis is key to successful treatment, especially for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which is highly treatable with physiotherapy.
Vertigo Treatments: What Are Your Options?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause but may include:
Physiotherapy (Vestibular Rehabilitation)
Physiotherapy for vertigo is highly effective, especially for BPPV, vestibular hypofunction, and balance-related conditions.
At BodyMotion Physiotherapy, we specialise in:
- Canalith repositioning techniques (e.g. Epley manoeuvre for BPPV)
- Gaze stabilisation exercises
- Balance retraining
- Habituation exercises for motion sensitivity
If you’re wondering how to treat vertigo without relying on medication long-term, vestibular physiotherapy is a safe, drug-free solution.
Vertigo Exercises at Home
Your physiotherapist may prescribe simple vertigo exercises to perform at home, such as:
Brandt-Daroff exercises:
Step-by-step instructions:
- Sit upright on the edge of your bed or a firm surface.
- Turn your head 45° to the left.
- Quickly lie down on your right side, keeping your head at that same angle (looking up).
- Remain in that position for 30 seconds or until the dizziness stops.
- Return to sitting and wait for 30 seconds.
- Now turn your head 45° to the right.
- Quickly lie down on your left side, again holding the head position.
- Stay for 30 seconds or until dizziness stops.
- Return to sitting and rest for 30 seconds.
Repeat: 5 times per side (10 movements total) per session. Perform 2–3 sessions daily.
Potential benefits:
- Helps the brain adapt to changes in head position
- Reduces vertigo symptoms over time
- Aids in repositioning loose crystals in the inner ear (BPPV)
Gaze Stabilisation Drills (e.g. VOR x1 Exercise)
Step-by-step instructions:
- Sit or stand upright in a quiet space.
- Hold a target (like a letter on a sticky note) at eye level, about arm’s length away.
- Focus your eyes on the target.
- Slowly turn your head left and right (or up and down), while keeping your eyes fixed on the target.
- Continue for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Repeat: 3–5 times a day. Increase speed and duration gradually as tolerated.
Potential benefits:
- Improves eye-head coordination
- Reduces dizziness with movement
- Helps retrain the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)
Balance and Coordination Training
Step-by-step instructions:
- Stand near a wall or sturdy surface for support.
- Tandem stance: Place one foot directly in front of the other (heel to toe). Hold for 30 seconds. Switch feet and repeat.
- Single-leg stance: Stand on one foot for up to 30 seconds. Switch sides. Close eyes to progress.
- Heel-to-toe walking: Walk in a straight line, placing the heel of one foot just in front of the toes of the other. Take 10 steps forward.
Repeat: Perform 1–2 sets of each daily.
Potential benefits:
- Enhances overall stability and confidence with movement
- Improves coordination and posture
- Reduces fall risk and increases independence
Medication for Vertigo
In some cases, short-term medication may be used to manage nausea or inflammation, especially for conditions like labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis.
Common medications include:
- Antihistamines (e.g., meclizine)
- Anti-nausea drugs (e.g., prochlorperazine)
- Corticosteroids (in some inflammatory cases)
However, these are not long-term solutions and should always be used under medical guidance.
How to Tell Which Ear Is Causing Vertigo
In BPPV, vertigo is typically caused by crystals affecting one ear more than the other. A physiotherapist or specialist will conduct specific manoeuvres, like the Dix-Hallpike test, to determine which side is affected. Once identified, the correct treatment (like the Epley manoeuvre) can be performed on the affected ear to relieve symptoms quickly.
How to Get Rid of Vertigo: Long-Term Relief
While vertigo can be unsettling, most cases—especially BPPV—respond very well to appropriate treatment.
How to get rid of vertigo often comes down to:
- Getting an accurate diagnosis
- Following a tailored treatment plan
- Performing vestibular exercises as prescribed
- Avoiding known triggers (e.g. sudden head movements)
- Maintaining good hydration and overall health
For chronic or recurring cases, vestibular rehabilitation with a qualified physiotherapist offers a proven pathway to long-term recovery.
Don’t Ignore Dizziness – Speak with a Qualified Physiotherapist to Learn More
Vertigo isn’t just “feeling dizzy”—it’s a sign that something in your balance system needs attention. Whether you’re experiencing brief spinning spells or persistent unsteadiness, understanding the cause and exploring effective vertigo treatments is essential.
At BodyMotion Physiotherapy, we can help assess, diagnose, and treat vestibular conditions with a calm, professional approach. If you’re looking for a drug-free, lasting solution to your dizziness or balance issues, our vestibular physiotherapists are here to help.
Start your recovery with expert support—and feel steady, confident, and in control again. Book Your Appointment Online or contact our friendly team to learn more.
