How Vestibular Physiotherapy Can Improve Your Daily Life
If dizziness, imbalance, or vertigo are starting to shape your days, the numbers suggest you are dealing with something remarkably common. Vestibular vertigo affects more than 5% of adults annually, and up to 35% of adults over 40 will experience a vestibular problem at some point in their lives.
The good news? Your balance system is incredibly adaptable, and with the right support, you can retrain it. That is exactly where vestibular physiotherapy comes in.
Book your vestibular physiotherapy assessment today
What Is Vestibular Physiotherapy?
Vestibular physiotherapy focuses on treating dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems caused by issues in your inner ear or brain’s balance centers. At Cedar Chiropractic & Physiotherapy in Burnaby, evidence-based techniques are used to help your brain re-calibrate, so you can move confidently again.
Common conditions that benefit from vestibular rehabilitation Burnaby include:
BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)
That sudden room-spinning sensation caused by displaced inner ear crystals. BPPV is considered the most common vestibular disorder and is highly treatable.
Vestibular hypofunction
When one side of your balance system is not working properly, creating asymmetry in how your brain processes balance information.
Concussion-related dizziness
Often from visual or balance system disruption following mild traumatic brain injury. Balance-related parts of your inner ear or brain are commonly affected by concussion.
Think of vestibular rehab as guided retraining for your balance system — it is structured, progressive, and can be quite effective.
How Vestibular Issues Affect Your Daily Life
If you are navigating dizziness or vertigo, you already know it is more than just an occasional annoyance. It can affect:
1. Your confidence when moving
Walking down the grocery aisle, stepping off a curb, turning quickly—suddenly, these simple actions feel like obstacles.
2. Your ability to work
Screen fatigue, head movements, and busy environments make you feel overwhelmed or off-balance. The cumulative effect on productivity and mental energy can be significant.
3. Your social or recreational life
Exercise classes, sports, family outings—even dinner at a busy restaurant — can feel overwhelming when dizziness is unpredictable. Many people start avoiding activities they once enjoyed, creating a cycle of reduced activity and worsening symptoms.
4. Your mental health
Anxiety, stress, and fear of symptoms returning are common responses to vestibular disorders. The unpredictability of symptoms — never knowing when dizziness might strike — creates hypervigilance and emotional exhaustion that is completely understandable.
How Vestibular Rehabilitation Works
Your physiotherapists in Burnaby start by identifying the root cause of your dizziness. Once your physio knows what is driving your symptoms, a customized program using proven techniques is built for you.
1. Canalith repositioning (for BPPV)
If vertigo hits when you roll in bed or look up, BPPV may be the cause. A simple series of movements like the Epley maneuver can reposition your displaced crystals — often providing relief within one or two sessions. This is why BPPV is considered highly treatable despite being the most common vestibular disorder.
2. Gaze stabilization training
If the room seems to “jump” when you move your head, your vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) likely needs retraining. This reflex keeps your vision steady when your head moves. Exercises like VOR x1 drills teach your brain to keep your vision steady again through repeated, controlled practice.
3. Balance & postural training
Your balance is challenged safely and progressively to retrain how your body reacts to motion and uneven surfaces. This might include standing on foam, walking with head turns, or practicing dynamic movements that replicate real-world challenges you will encounter.
4. Graded exposure & motion sensitivity training
When your system is overly sensitive to movement, your are gradually exposed to controlled head and body motions so your brain can relearn tolerance. Think of it as desensitization — starting with movements that provoke only mild symptoms and gradually increasing complexity as your system adapts.
5. Concussion recovery support
For lingering post-concussion symptoms, the areas of your brain that drive dizziness are targeted — vision, balance, neck mobility, and pacing strategies.
Your treatment progresses at your pace—challenging enough to stimulate neuroplastic changes, but never overwhelming.
What Improvements Can You Expect?
With consistent vestibular physiotherapy, you may notice:
- Reduced dizziness and spinning sensations
- More confidence with walking, driving, or turning your head
- Better balance on uneven ground or in busy environments
- Improved focus and less mental fatigue
- More freedom in your daily routine
Many patients tell us they feel like they “got their life back” once the dizziness eased. The impact extends beyond physical symptoms — people report reduced anxiety, improved mood, and restored confidence in their ability to engage with life.
Tips to Support Your Recovery at Home
Your physiotherapist will give you tailored exercises, but here are some general habits that help:
Move regularly – Gentle movement often speeds recovery. Your vestibular system needs input to recalibrate — staying still typically makes symptoms worse over time.
Avoid prolonged bed rest – Although it may provide you with relief, extended rest can actually delay recovery.
Gradually expose yourself to normal daily motion – Avoiding triggers completely prevents your brain from adapting. Strategic, gradual exposure is key.
Limit scrolling or fast-moving screens if they worsen symptoms. Visual motion sensitivity is common with vestibular disorders, but complete avoidance is not the answer. Work with your therapist on appropriate exposure.
When To Seek Vestibular Physiotherapy
You should reach out if you have been experiencing:
- Sudden spinning sensations
- Dizziness with head movements
- Unsteadiness or imbalance
- Motion sensitivity
- Symptoms after a concussion
- A “floating” or disconnected feeling
- Night-time dizziness when rolling over in bed
You do not have to wait for symptoms to become severe. Early treatment often leads to quicker recovery and prevents compensatory patterns that can complicate rehabilitation.
Final Takeaway: Your Balance System Can Adapt
Vestibular disorders can feel isolating and frustrating, especially when simple movements suddenly feel risky. But here is what the research clearly shows: your vestibular system is remarkably plastic — it can relearn, recalibrate, and adapt with appropriate stimulation.
Keep it simple:
- Seek professional assessment early
- Follow your home exercise program consistently
- Gradually challenge your system rather than avoiding movement
- Be patient with the process — vestibular rehabilitation takes time but works
At Cedar Chiropractic & Physiotherapy in Burnaby, BC, get help to take back your day-to-day life through personalized, evidence-based vestibular rehabilitation.
If dizziness or imbalance is affecting your routine — even in small ways — let us work together to help you move with confidence again.
Book your vestibular physiotherapy assessment today
Frequently Asked Questions About ICBC Physiotherapy In Burnaby
Q: What does a vestibular physiotherapist do?
A: Your vestibular physiotherapist will first ask you questions about your symptoms, history and health. Based on your responses, they will perform various tests to determine what is leading to your symptoms. After your exam, your physiotherapist will review their findings, explain your plan for recovery and begin your treatments.
Q: What are the symptoms of vestibular dysfunction?
A: Your symptoms will largely depend on what the cause of your difficulties are. These can include dizziness, nausea, loss of balance, loss of coordination, fatigue and difficulty focusing.
Q: What are vestibular physiotherapy exercises?
A: The vestiulbar physiotherapy exercises prescribed to you will be specifically designed to address the cause of your symptoms and can include movements to reposition your inner ear crystals, stretches to ease tightness in you neck muscles and joints, exercises to strengthen your neck and core as well as exercises to help improve your balance and coordination.
