Vertigo & Dizziness Treatment Edmonton

Assessment and treatment for vertigo, spinning, light-headedness and unsteadiness — most causes respond well to targeted vestibular physiotherapy.

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Vertigo and Dizziness Treatment in Edmonton

Vertigo & Dizziness Treatment In Edmonton at Next Step Physio & Neurorehab Clinic helps individuals manage dizziness and improve balance through personalized physiotherapy. Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people see a physiotherapist, and many causes are treatable. Vertigo — a spinning sensation — is often caused by a problem in the inner ear’s balance system. Light-headedness, unsteadiness, and motion sensitivity can arise from the inner ear, the neck, a concussion, or changes in how the brain processes balance information. At Next Step Physio & Neurorehab Clinic in Edmonton, our physiotherapists assess which system is involved and provide appropriate treatment through vestibular rehabilitation.

You do not need a referral. If your dizziness started suddenly with new weakness, slurred speech, double vision, severe headache or chest pain, go to emergency first — those symptoms need medical assessment before physiotherapy.

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What causes vertigo and dizziness?

The most common cause of true vertigo is BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo), where tiny crystals in the inner ear move into the wrong canal and trigger brief spinning when you roll over, look up or lie down. Other causes include vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis after a viral infection, Ménière’s disease, vestibular migraine, post-concussion dizziness, cervicogenic dizziness from the neck, and age-related decline in the balance system.

Each of these needs a different approach, which is why a proper assessment matters more than the label “dizzy”.

How physiotherapy treats dizziness

Vestibular physiotherapy is exercise- and technique-based. For BPPV, repositioning manoeuvres move the crystals back where they belong, often resolving the spinning sensation in one to three visits. For inner-ear weakness, gaze-stabilization and habituation exercises help the brain recalibrate. For post-concussion and neck-related dizziness, treatment may include neck care, visual-motion exercises, and graded activity. Balance retraining runs alongside these approaches to help reduce fall risk.

As part of Vertigo & Dizziness Treatment In Edmonton, a physiotherapist with vestibular training at Next Step will explain which type of dizziness you have and what to expect from your treatment plan.

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What happens at a dizziness assessment?

Your first appointment is about 45–60 minutes and includes:

Your history:

When the dizziness started, what it feels like (spinning, floating, rocking), what triggers it, how long it lasts and any hearing changes, headaches or neck pain.

Eye-movement testing:

Your physiotherapist watches how your eyes move and track, which reveals a great deal about the inner ear and brain.

Positional testing:

Movements such as the Dix–Hallpike test check for BPPV and identify which ear and canal are involved.

Balance and walking:

Standing, walking and turning tasks show how your body is compensating.

Neck screening:

Where the neck may be contributing, its movement and muscle tension are examined.

Treatment starts the same day:

If BPPV is found, a repositioning manoeuvre is usually performed immediately. Otherwise you leave with your first exercises.

Expect to feel briefly dizzy during testing — that is normal and helps us reach the right diagnosis.

When to see a doctor first

Physiotherapy is appropriate for most dizziness once serious causes have been ruled out. As part of Vertigo & Dizziness Treatment In Edmonton, our team prioritizes patient safety and recommends seeking urgent medical care if dizziness occurs with a sudden severe headache, new weakness or numbness, difficulty speaking, double vision, chest pain, fainting, or a fall with head injury. If you are unsure about your symptoms, contact your doctor or Health Link 811 before booking an appointment.

Get relief from vertigo in Edmonton

Most people with BPPV feel a marked improvement after the first one or two treatments, while other forms of dizziness may improve steadily with a personalized home exercise program. If you’re looking for Vertigo & Dizziness Treatment In Edmonton, book a vestibular assessment at our Mill Woods clinic. No referral is required, and treatment is direct-billed to most insurance plans.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ

Understanding your dizziness

What is the difference between vertigo and dizziness?

Vertigo is the sensation that you or the room is spinning, usually from the inner ear. Dizziness is broader — light-headedness, unsteadiness or a floating feeling — and can come from the inner ear, neck, brain, blood pressure or medications.

Why do I get dizzy when I roll over in bed?

That pattern is typical of BPPV, where inner-ear crystals shift with head position. It is very treatable with repositioning manoeuvres.

Can neck problems cause dizziness?

Yes. Stiff or irritated upper-neck joints and muscles can send faulty balance information to the brain, especially after whiplash or with long hours at a desk.

Can dizziness after a concussion be treated?

Yes. Post-concussion dizziness usually involves the inner ear, the neck and visual-motion sensitivity; vestibular physiotherapy addresses all three.

Will my dizziness come back?

BPPV can recur, but it is treated the same way if it does. Learning your triggers and a maintenance exercise plan reduces the chance of recurrence.

Treatment and booking

How many sessions will I need?

BPPV often resolves in 1–3 visits. Other vestibular conditions typically take 4–8 sessions over several weeks with home exercises between visits.

Do I need a referral for vertigo treatment?

No. You can book a vestibular assessment directly. Some insurers require a doctor's note for reimbursement.

Is vertigo treatment covered by insurance?

Vestibular physiotherapy is billed as physiotherapy and is covered by most extended health plans; we direct-bill many insurers.

Can I drive to my appointment?

If your dizziness is triggered by head movement, arrange a ride for the first visit — testing can make you feel dizzy for a short time afterwards.

Who treats vertigo at Next Step?

Physiotherapists with vestibular rehabilitation training. Ask when booking if you would like a specific therapist.

Can a physiotherapist treat vertigo?

Yes. Physiotherapists with vestibular training assess and treat the most common causes of vertigo. For BPPV, a repositioning manoeuvre such as the Epley often resolves the spinning in one or two visits; for vestibular neuritis, concussion-related dizziness and balance problems, a graded exercise program retrains the balance system. Causes that need medical treatment are referred on.

Who should I see for vertigo?

Start with your family physician if the vertigo is new, severe, or comes with other symptoms, so that medical causes can be ruled out. For positional vertigo (BPPV), ongoing dizziness after a diagnosis, or balance problems, a vestibular-trained physiotherapist is the usual next step, and no referral is needed in Alberta. ENT specialists and neurologists are involved when the cause is in the inner ear structure or the brain.

What are the five D's of vertigo?

The five D's are a screening list for dizziness that may be coming from the brainstem rather than the inner ear: diplopia (double vision), dysarthria (slurred speech), dysphagia (trouble swallowing), drop attacks (sudden falls without losing consciousness) and dysmetria (loss of coordination). Vertigo together with any of these needs urgent medical assessment, not physiotherapy. Our vestibular assessment screens for them before any treatment starts.

Related services at Next Step:

Available at our Millwoods clinic in Edmonton. Book an appointment.