See Our Reviews:What is Vestibular Rehabilitation?
If you experience dizziness, vertigo, poor balance, or feel like the room is spinning, even simple daily activities can become difficult. Walking through a grocery store, getting out of bed, turning your head while driving, or moving quickly may leave you feeling unsteady or nauseated. These symptoms are often caused by a vestibular disorder, which affects the vestibular system in the inner ear and brain.
The vestibular system helps control your balance, eye movements, and sense of movement. When it isn’t working properly, it can make everyday activities feel challenging and affect your confidence, mobility, and quality of life.
Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physiotherapy that helps assess and treat vestibular disorders. Through personalized exercises and movement-based treatment, it can help reduce dizziness and vertigo, improve balance, and make everyday activities feel easier and safer.
At Pillars of Wellness, our Burlington physiotherapists provide specialized vestibular rehabilitation as part of our comprehensive physiotherapy in Burlington. Your first appointment includes a detailed vestibular assessment to identify the cause of your symptoms. We assess your balance, eye movements, head movements, walking pattern, and overall function before creating a personalized treatment plan tailored to your condition, goals, and recovery.
Signs and Symptoms of a Vestibular Disorder
A vestibular disorder can make everyday activities feel difficult and unpredictable. You may feel dizzy when you get out of bed, turn your head, walk through a busy store, or even stand still. Some people feel like the room is spinning, while others simply feel unsteady on their feet.
Common signs and symptoms of a vestibular disorder include:
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Vertigo (a spinning sensation)
- Poor balance or feeling unsteady
- Difficulty walking, especially on uneven ground
- Motion sensitivity when moving your head or changing positions
- Nausea or vomiting caused by dizziness
- Blurred vision when moving
- Feeling off balance in busy places like grocery stores or shopping malls
- Frequent falls or fear of falling
- Difficulty concentrating because of ongoing dizziness
- Dizziness or balance problems after a concussion or head injury
These symptoms can have many different causes. Some vestibular disorders affect the inner ear, while others involve the brain or nervous system. Because many conditions share similar symptoms, a thorough vestibular assessment is the best way to find the cause and determine the most appropriate treatment.
Vestibular Disorders We Treat
Several different conditions can affect the vestibular system and cause dizziness, vertigo, balance problems, or motion sensitivity. While many vestibular disorders share similar symptoms, each condition requires a thorough assessment to determine the most appropriate treatment.
Our Burlington physiotherapists assess and treat many vestibular disorders, including:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It happens when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear move out of place. This can cause brief episodes of dizziness when you roll over in bed, look up, bend down, or change positions. Vestibular rehabilitation often includes gentle repositioning techniques, such as the Epley maneuver, to help relieve symptoms.
Vestibular Neuritis
Vestibular neuritis is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve that can cause sudden dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and balance problems. Vestibular rehabilitation helps improve balance, reduce dizziness, and support your recovery as your brain adapts to changes in the vestibular system.
Labyrinthitis
Labyrinthitis affects both the balance and hearing parts of the inner ear. In addition to dizziness and vertigo, some people may notice hearing changes or ringing in the ears. Vestibular rehabilitation can help improve balance and reduce lingering symptoms after the initial infection settles.
Ménière’s Disease
Ménière’s disease is an inner ear disorder that can cause episodes of vertigo, hearing loss, ringing in the ears, and a feeling of fullness in the ear. While medical management is often required, vestibular rehabilitation may help improve balance and reduce dizziness between episodes.
Vestibular Migraine
Vestibular migraine may cause dizziness, vertigo, motion sensitivity, and balance problems with or without a headache. Vestibular rehabilitation can help reduce motion sensitivity, improve balance, and support your overall recovery alongside medical care when needed.
Age-Related Balance Disorders
As we age, changes in the inner ear, vision, muscles, and joints can affect balance and increase the risk of falls. Vestibular rehabilitation focuses on improving balance, walking confidence, and reducing fall risk.
Post-Concussion Dizziness
Dizziness and balance problems are common after a concussion. Vestibular rehabilitation can be an important part of concussion recovery by improving balance, reducing dizziness, and helping you safely return to work, sports, and daily activities.
How Vestibular Physiotherapy Can Help
Vestibular physiotherapy is designed to reduce dizziness, improve balance, and help you feel more confident during everyday activities. Because every vestibular disorder affects people differently, your treatment plan is based on the results of your assessment, your symptoms, and your personal goals.
Depending on your condition, your physiotherapist may recommend one or more of the following treatments:
- Canalith repositioning techniques, such as the Epley maneuver, to treat Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Gaze stabilization exercises to improve vision and reduce dizziness during head movements
- Balance retraining exercises to improve stability and reduce the risk of falls
- Habituation exercises to help your brain become less sensitive to movements that trigger dizziness
- Walking and movement training to improve confidence and make everyday activities easier
- A personalized home exercise program to continue your progress between appointments
As your symptoms improve, your treatment plan will be adjusted to match your recovery. Our goal is not only to reduce dizziness and improve balance but also to help you return to work, driving, exercise, sports, and the activities you enjoy with greater confidence.
What to Expect During Your Vestibular Physiotherapy Assessment
Your first appointment begins with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and how dizziness or balance problems are affecting your daily life. Understanding when your symptoms started, what makes them better or worse, and how they affect your activities helps your physiotherapist identify the most likely cause.
Your vestibular physiotherapy assessment may include:
- A review of your symptoms and medical history
- Assessment of your eye and head movements
- Balance and walking assessment
- Positional testing for conditions such as BPPV
- Movement tests to identify what triggers your symptoms
- A discussion about your goals and daily activities
After your assessment, your physiotherapist will explain the findings, answer your questions, and develop a personalized treatment plan based on your condition and recovery goals. If your symptoms suggest that additional medical assessment is needed, we’ll discuss the most appropriate next steps and, when appropriate, recommend follow-up with your physician or another healthcare provider.
When Should You See a Vestibular Physiotherapist?
You don’t need to wait until your symptoms become severe before seeking help. If dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems are affecting your work, driving, exercise, or everyday activities, a vestibular physiotherapy assessment can help identify the cause and determine whether treatment is appropriate.
You may benefit from vestibular physiotherapy if you:
- Feel dizzy or unsteady when walking or changing positions
- Experience vertigo when rolling over in bed or looking up
- Have difficulty with balance or have fallen recently
- Feel unsteady in busy places such as grocery stores or shopping malls
- Continue to experience dizziness after a concussion
- Notice ongoing motion sensitivity or blurred vision with head movements
- Want to improve your balance and reduce your risk of falls
Early assessment can often help identify the underlying problem sooner and provide the right treatment plan to support your recovery. If your symptoms are caused by another medical condition, your physiotherapist will discuss the next steps and, when appropriate, recommend follow-up with your physician or another healthcare provider.
Why Choose Pillars of Wellness for Vestibular Physiotherapy in Burlington
Living with dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems can be frustrating and affect almost every part of your daily life. At Pillars of Wellness, we take the time to understand your symptoms, identify the underlying cause, and create a treatment plan that supports your recovery and long-term confidence.
When you choose our clinic, you can expect:
- One-on-one care with a registered physiotherapist throughout every appointment
- Comprehensive vestibular assessments to identify the cause of your symptoms
- Personalized treatment plans based on your condition, goals, and progress
- Evidence-informed vestibular rehabilitation using proven assessment and treatment techniques
- Direct billing to most extended health insurance plans
- Convenient Burlington location with free parking and flexible appointment times
- Collaborative care with other healthcare professionals when additional treatment or assessment is appropriate
Our goal is to help you move with confidence again so you can return to work, driving, exercise, sports, and the activities you enjoy without dizziness or balance problems getting in the way.
Flexibility and accommodation to make your appointment viable and fit to your schedule
Highly recommended for everyone who is looking for friendly, warm and very professional help in physiotherapy. Flexibility and accommodation to make your appointment viable and fit to your schedule. Warm, new and clean environment going very well together with informative and friendly, professional personnel. My therapy clinical notes, invoices and appointment reminders were also available on line and on time. Khizar, Nancy, Thank you.
Feeling better by the day. Thank you so much!
This is the first time I give a review. I cannot say enough about this clinic. They are really amazing. Friendly, great customer service and helped me with a condition I have for years. Feeling better by the day. Thank you so much!
I was very impressed by their customer service and professionalism
I recently used Pillars of Wellness services for my injuries. I was very impressed by their customer service and professionalism. The first time I came to do my assessment, the owner, the physiotherapist and the chiropractor sat with me to help me figure out the best way to feel better and faster. I spent 6 weeks with on-going treatment using different modalities. The end result was no more pain and I was able to move again!! Thank you so much for your help. I highly recommend this clinic to anyone.
Summing it up Pillars of Wellness is a well run top notch health clinic!
Lori and Laurent Pinci who run Pillars of Wellness along with their team are very professional and efficient. They make you feel welcome with a smile and kind words every time you walk through their doors. They truly care. We have not yet had the need to experience the many other services that Pillars of Wellness offers, but if we ever did, we definitely would not hesitate to use them.
I’m feeling very supported during my recovery….
On the advice of a friend, I reached out and booked a series of appointments with their occupational therapist, Lori; physiotherapist, Abida; and their naturopath, Dr. Galantai to help with recovering from a concussion. It has been an excellent experience! They are all incredible practitioners.
This is the first time I’ve ever experienced a longer term injury and their genuine, individualized care has really lessened my stress. I’m feeling very supported during my recovery and highly recommend their clinic. I credit my continual improvement to the holistic way I’m getting treatment for my symptoms and am very grateful.
I went to different clinics I finally found one worth going to.
Friendly, caring and professionals like nothing I have seen around Aldershot//Burlington. Attentive to the needs of their patients. They take the time to listen. Beautiful and well designed clinic that is extremely well maintained. I have had two car accidents in the last year and I went to different clinics I finally found one worth going to.
Before Your Visit
Frequently Asked Questions
What is vestibular rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation is a specialized form of physiotherapy that helps improve balance and reduce dizziness by retraining the brain and body to adapt to inner ear and balance system dysfunction.
What symptoms can vestibular rehabilitation help with?
It helps with dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, unsteadiness, nausea from movement, and difficulty focusing while walking or turning your head.
How does vestibular physiotherapy work?
Through targeted exercises that improve gaze stability, balance, strength, and coordination, plus education on movement strategies and fall prevention.
How long does vestibular rehabilitation take?
Many patients notice improvement within a few weeks, but the full treatment plan depends on symptom severity and individual progress.
Who is a good candidate for vestibular rehabilitation?
Anyone experiencing persistent dizziness, balance problems, or vertigo due to conditions like BPPV, vestibular neuritis, or inner ear imbalance may benefit after an assessment.
