Vestibular Physiotherapy
Vertigo, dizziness, and unsteadiness can be frightening and exhausting — and they are often very treatable. At Hi Movement, Kristen assesses and treats vestibular (inner-ear) and balance conditions, with a particular focus on BPPV, the most common cause of vertigo. Whether the room spins when you roll over in bed or you simply don't trust your balance the way you used to, we work out what is driving it and build a plan to help you feel steady again.
BPPV Repositioning
Positional tests such as the Dix-Hallpike identify which inner-ear canal is affected. Kristen then uses repositioning manoeuvres — including the Epley manoeuvre — to guide the displaced crystals back where they belong. For many people, symptoms settle within one to three sessions.
Gaze Stabilisation
When the inner ear isn't sending reliable signals, your vision can blur or bounce as you move your head. Gaze stabilisation exercises retrain the connection between your eyes and your balance system, so turning your head and moving through busy spaces feels steadier.
Balance Retraining
Progressive balance and walking exercises — on firm and soft surfaces, with your eyes open and closed, and with your head moving — to rebuild your confidence on your feet and reduce your risk of falls.
Habituation Exercises
For dizziness that lingers after an inner-ear event, or is set off by particular movements and environments, graded repeated exposure helps your brain recalibrate so those triggers gradually lose their power.
Whole-Person Assessment
Dizziness rarely has a single cause. We look at your inner ear, your neck, your vision, and your general health, including medications, and refer you to your GP or a specialist whenever something needs a doctor's input.
Home Program & Self-Management
You leave with a clear home program, guidance on getting back to driving, work, and exercise, and — if you have BPPV — a plan for what to do if it comes back, because it sometimes does.
What Is BPPV?
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo — the sensation that you or the room is spinning. It happens when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear come loose and drift into one of the fluid-filled canals that sense head movement. When you move your head into certain positions — rolling over in bed, lying down, sitting up, or looking up to a high shelf — the crystals shift and send a false signal that you are spinning.
Episodes are typically brief, lasting seconds to a minute, and are often accompanied by nausea and a feeling of unsteadiness that can last much longer. Despite how alarming it feels, BPPV is a benign condition and one of the most treatable causes of dizziness: repositioning manoeuvres are the recommended first-line treatment and are well supported by research. BPPV can recur, so we also make sure you understand your condition and know what to do if it comes back.
Other Conditions We Help With
Vestibular physiotherapy is not only for BPPV. Kristen also works with people recovering from vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis (an inner-ear inflammation that can leave lingering imbalance), people living with Ménière's disease or vestibular migraine alongside their medical management, and people with persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), where dizziness continues long after the original trigger has passed.
We also help with dizziness and balance problems following concussion, dizziness that stems from a stiff or painful neck (cervicogenic dizziness), and the gradual loss of balance confidence that can come with age. If falls — or the fear of falling — are limiting what you do, a structured balance program can make a real difference.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
Your first session starts with a detailed conversation about your symptoms: what the dizziness feels like, what sets it off, how long it lasts, and how it is affecting your life. Kristen then assesses your eye movements, tests specific head positions to check for BPPV, and looks at your balance, walking, and neck. The assessment itself can briefly provoke your symptoms — this is expected, and it tells us a great deal.
Where BPPV is found, treatment usually begins the same day. Some people feel a little unsteady or nauseous for a few hours after a repositioning manoeuvre, so you may prefer to have someone drive you home from your first appointment. For broader vestibular rehabilitation, you will leave with a tailored exercise program that we progress together over the following weeks. You do not need a referral to book.
When Dizziness Needs Urgent Medical Care
Most dizziness is not a medical emergency, but some symptoms need urgent attention. Call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if dizziness comes on suddenly together with any of the following: weakness or numbness in your face, arm, or leg; slurred speech or trouble understanding; double vision or sudden loss of vision; a severe or unusual headache; difficulty walking or a sudden loss of coordination; chest pain, palpitations, or fainting; or a sudden change in your hearing.
If you have been assessed by a doctor, or your dizziness is ongoing and you are not sure where to start, vestibular physiotherapy is often the next step — and we will always refer you on if your assessment suggests something that needs medical review.