Conditions we treat
Post-Concussion Dizziness
Dizziness, imbalance, and visual symptoms that linger after a concussion — and the targeted therapy that helps them resolve.
What Is Post-Concussion Dizziness?
Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms after a concussion — and notably, dizziness at the time of injury is one of the better predictors of a longer recovery. The good news: it's very treatable once you understand what's actually causing it.
And here's the part that changes everything: "post-concussion dizziness" isn't a single problem. It's an umbrella term for several different issues, any of which a blow to the head can set off — sometimes more than one at the same time. That's exactly why generic advice and one-size-fits-all exercises so often fall short. Pinpointing which of these is driving your symptoms is the whole game:
- Loose inner-ear crystals (BPPV). Head impacts frequently knock the inner ear's balance crystals out of place, producing brief, intense spinning with position changes. It's common after concussion, often missed — and quickly fixable.
- Inner-ear / gaze-stability problems. When the reflex that keeps your eyes steady during head movement is disrupted, your vision blurs or "jumps" when you move, and motion makes you dizzy.
- Neck-driven (cervicogenic) dizziness. The same force that concussed you often strained your neck. Faulty signals from injured neck tissues can cause dizziness and unsteadiness, usually alongside neck pain and headache.
- Visual / eye-teaming problems. Concussion can disrupt how your eyes work together, so reading, screens, and busy places trigger dizziness, fatigue, and headache.
- Exertion intolerance. Symptoms that flare with physical or mental effort, which respond to carefully graded activity rather than total rest.
- Persistent dizziness that outlasts the concussion (PPPD). Sometimes the brain stays "stuck" in a dizzy, high-alert mode even after the injury heals.
- Concussion-triggered migraine. Head injury can set off or worsen vestibular migraine.
A thorough evaluation untangles which of these you have — and each one has its own targeted treatment.
What It Feels Like
People recovering from concussion often describe:
- "Ever since the hit, my vision feels off and I get dizzy when I turn my head."
- "Screens and busy places make my head swim and bring on a headache."
- "Reading makes me dizzy and exhausted."
- "I feel foggy, slow, and unsteady on my feet."
- "I get a quick spin when I roll over in bed now." (a sign of BPPV)
- "My neck aches and the dizziness seems tied to it."
- "I was told to just rest and wait — but it's been weeks."
A Note on Head Injuries
A concussion should first be evaluated by a physician. Seek emergency care right away if, after a head injury, you have a worsening or severe headache, repeated vomiting, increasing confusion or drowsiness, seizures, weakness or numbness, slurred speech, unequal pupils, or loss of consciousness. Vestibular therapy is for the lingering dizziness and balance symptoms once any urgent concerns have been ruled out.
Why Vestibular Physical Therapy Is the Right Treatment
For years, the standard advice after a concussion was to rest in a dark room and wait it out. We now know that prolonged rest often makes recovery slower, and that active, targeted rehabilitation — started at the right time — leads to better outcomes. A landmark randomized trial found that combined vestibular and neck-focused physical therapy significantly improved recovery and return-to-sport rates after concussion, and current concussion guidelines support active, individualized rehab over extended rest.
Because post-concussion dizziness has multiple possible drivers, treatment is matched to what your evaluation actually finds — for example:
- Repositioning maneuvers if BPPV is present (often resolved in a visit or two)
- Gaze stabilization exercises to steady your vision during movement
- Neck-focused manual therapy and retraining for cervicogenic dizziness
- Oculomotor / visual exercises to rebuild comfortable reading and screen tolerance (sometimes co-managed with a vision specialist)
- Graded balance and activity progression — including carefully dosed exertion — to rebuild tolerance without flaring symptoms
- Habituation to reduce motion and visual sensitivity
This targeted, multi-system approach is what separates effective concussion care from "do these generic exercises and hope."
What to Expect in Treatment
A comprehensive evaluation. This is the most important step. We assess your eye movements and visual tracking, your inner-ear and gaze-stability function, your balance and walking, your neck, and how you tolerate motion and exertion — building a clear picture of which systems are involved.
A plan matched to your findings. You'll get a customized program targeting your specific drivers, dosed to challenge you just enough to drive recovery without overwhelming you. As you improve, we progress it — guiding a graded return to the activities, work, school, or sport that matter to you.
Honest expectations. Some exercises may briefly stir up symptoms; that's part of the retraining and it eases over time. Consistency with your home program strongly influences how fast and how fully you recover.
Coordinated care. Concussion recovery can involve a team. We work alongside your physician and, when helpful, other specialists, and we'll help coordinate next steps if your evaluation points to a need.
Post-Concussion Dizziness FAQ
I was told to just rest until it goes away. Is that right?
Brief rest right after the injury makes sense, but prolonged rest tends to slow recovery. For dizziness and balance symptoms that linger, active, targeted rehabilitation is the current standard — and it works.
My CT or MRI was normal. Why am I still dizzy?
Standard imaging doesn't capture the functional effects of a concussion. Your scan can look perfectly normal while your balance, gaze, and visual systems are still misfiring — and those are exactly what we evaluate and treat.
Can my dizziness be caused by more than one thing?
Frequently, yes. It's common to have, say, both leftover BPPV and a neck component. That's why a careful evaluation matters — so nothing treatable gets missed.
Do I have to be an athlete for this to apply?
Not at all. Concussions from car accidents, falls, and workplace injuries cause the same dizziness — and respond to the same targeted care.
How long does recovery take?
Many concussions improve within a few weeks. When symptoms persist beyond that, targeted vestibular and cervical therapy can shorten the course and improve the result. We'll give you an individualized estimate after your evaluation.
When can I return to work, school, driving, or sport?
Through a guided, graded process. We help you build tolerance step by step and return to what matters as safely and quickly as your recovery allows.
Do I need a referral to be seen?
No. A concussion should be diagnosed by a physician, but you don't need a referral to start vestibular therapy, and we'll coordinate with your care team as needed.