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Dizziness and balance treatment in Shirley, MA
The short answer
A lot of dizziness and balance trouble comes from the inner ear, the body's balance system, or from leg strength and confidence that have slipped over time. A common cause called BPPV, when tiny crystals in the inner ear get out of place, is often quick to treat. Vestibular therapy, which retrains the balance system, and strength and balance training help most people feel steadier and more confident on their feet.
On this page
What usually causes dizziness and balance problems
Balance depends on your inner ear, your eyes, your muscles and your brain all working together. When one part is off, you can feel dizzy or unsteady.
- BPPV
- Short spins of dizziness when you roll over in bed, look up or bend down. It happens when tiny crystals in the inner ear move to the wrong place, and it often responds well to simple head position moves.
- Inner ear problems
- An inner ear infection or inflammation can leave you dizzy and off balance for weeks after the worst has passed.
- After a concussion or head injury
- Dizziness, trouble focusing your eyes and feeling foggy in busy places are common after a head injury.
- Weakness and inactivity
- Weak legs, stiff ankles and less time on your feet make it harder to catch yourself, which raises the risk of falls.
- Fear of falling
- After a fall or a near miss, many people start moving less, which makes balance worse over time.
When to get it checked
Get checked if you have spells of dizziness or spinning, feel unsteady walking, have had a fall or a near fall, or are still dizzy weeks after a head injury or an inner ear infection. Call 911 or go to the emergency room right away if dizziness comes on suddenly with a severe headache, trouble speaking, face drooping, weakness or numbness on one side, double vision, fainting, chest pain, or a racing or irregular heartbeat. After a head injury, go right away for repeated vomiting, worsening headache, confusion or unusual sleepiness.
What you can do at home right now
These are safe starting points for most people. They are not a replacement for a proper evaluation.
- Make your home safer
- Clear clutter and loose rugs, add night lights, and use railings on stairs while you work on your balance.
- Move slowly when you change positions
- Sit on the edge of the bed for a moment before standing, and turn your head slowly if quick moves set off dizziness.
- Keep moving safely
- Short daily walks and standing balance practice near a counter you can hold onto help more than sitting still.
How we treat dizziness and balance at Whole Health Solutions
Your physical therapist is with you for the whole appointment, start to finish. We test your inner ear, eyes, strength and balance to find what is causing your symptoms, then build a plan to get you steady and confident again.
01
Relieve
Gentle head position moves for BPPV when it is the cause, and simple exercises that calm dizziness down.
02
Rebuild
Vestibular exercises to retrain the balance system, plus strength for the legs and hips so you can catch yourself if you trip.
03
Perform
Back to walking outside, stairs, driving, work and sports with confidence. When you are ready, our personal trainers help you stay strong and steady for the long run.
04
Thrive
Stay with the team that knows you. Check ins, training and a quick tune up whenever something new comes up, so this stays in the past.
Thrive is not a finish line. When life brings something new, the loop starts again with the same team.
Read more from our team
Blog posts and newsletter tips from our clinicians that go with dizziness and balance.
Talk to a physical therapist
A free call to tell us what is going on and see if we are the right fit.
Common questions about dizziness and balance
Can physical therapy help with dizziness?
Yes. Physical therapy for dizziness, called vestibular therapy, helps with many types of dizziness, especially BPPV, inner ear problems and dizziness after a concussion.
What is BPPV and how is it treated?
BPPV stands for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Tiny crystals in the inner ear move out of place and cause short spins of dizziness when you change head position. A physical therapist can guide them back into place with specific head and body moves.
What exercises help improve balance?
Standing on one leg near a counter, heel to toe walking, and leg strength moves like sit to stands are good places to start. A physical therapist can pick the right ones for you and make them harder as you improve.
Do I need a referral for dizziness and balance problems?
No. You can book directly with us. Most of our clients do use their insurance for reimbursement of our physical therapy services. We go over everything in the discovery meeting.
This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Everyone is different, so the best next step is an evaluation with one of our physical therapists.
Visit us
Serving 22+ nearby towns and beyond
2 Shaker Road, Suite C200, Shirley, MA 01464. Monday to Thursday, 5:00 am to 8:00 pm, Friday, 5:00 am to 3:00 pm, and Saturday, 6:00 am to 1:00 pm.