Stop the Spin.
Reclaim Your Balance.
Vertigo and dizziness don't have to control your life. Our registered physiotherapists use evidence-based vestibular rehabilitation to treat BPPV, balance disorders, and chronic dizziness — often with results in as few as 1–3 sessions.
Understanding Your Condition
When the World Won't
Stop Moving
Vertigo is far more than just dizziness. It is a disorienting sensation of spinning or movement — of the world tilting when it shouldn't. For many patients, even simple movements like rolling over in bed, looking up, or turning their head can trigger intense episodes.
In Canada, vestibular disorders affect millions of people across all age groups. Despite being one of the most treatable neurological conditions, many sufferers go undiagnosed for months or years, losing independence, confidence, and quality of life.
At RCP Health in Oakville, our physiotherapists are trained in vestibular assessment and rehabilitation — the evidence-based, first-line approach recommended by leading clinical guidelines for vertigo, BPPV, and balance dysfunction.
Conditions We Treat
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Vestibular Neuritis & Labyrinthitis
- Vestibular Migraine
- Cervicogenic Dizziness (neck-related)
- Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)
- Post-concussion Dizziness & Balance Dysfunction
- Central Vestibular Disorders
- Unilateral & Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction
- Age-Related Balance & Fall Prevention
Vestibular Disorders
Types of Vertigo &
Balance Disorders
BPPV
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo — the most common form. Caused by displaced calcium crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear canals. Characterized by brief, intense spinning triggered by head position changes.
Vestibular Neuritis
Inflammation of the vestibular nerve, usually following a viral infection. Causes prolonged intense vertigo, nausea, and imbalance that can last days to weeks, with residual instability persisting longer.
Vestibular Migraine
Dizziness or vertigo associated with migraine headaches — sometimes occurring without head pain. The second most common cause of vertigo and often misdiagnosed for years before proper treatment.
Cervicogenic Dizziness
Dizziness arising from neck joint dysfunction or injury, commonly following whiplash, MVA, or prolonged poor posture. Responds well to MSK physiotherapy combined with vestibular work.
PPPD
Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness — a chronic functional vestibular disorder characterized by persistent non-spinning dizziness, unsteadiness, and hypersensitivity to visual motion or complex environments.
Post-Concussion Dizziness
Vertigo and balance impairment following traumatic brain injury. Often involves both vestibular and visual processing disruption, requiring specialized vestibular and neurological rehabilitation.
Root Causes
What's Causing
Your Dizziness?
Inner Ear & Vestibular Origins
Displaced Otoconia (BPPV)
Calcium carbonate crystals dislodge from the utricle and migrate into the semicircular canals, sending false movement signals to the brain.
Viral Infection
Viruses affecting the inner ear (labyrinthitis) or the vestibular nerve (neuritis) can cause acute, severe vertigo and lasting imbalance.
Ménière's Disease
A chronic inner ear condition involving fluid pressure fluctuations, causing recurring vertigo episodes, hearing loss, tinnitus, and ear fullness.
Aging & Degeneration
Natural age-related decline in vestibular hair cell function reduces balance accuracy and increases fall risk in older adults.
Neurological & Musculoskeletal Origins
Head & Neck Trauma
Whiplash, concussion, or skull fractures can disrupt vestibular structures and cervical proprioception, causing post-traumatic dizziness.
Cervical Dysfunction
Dysfunctional neck joints disrupt proprioceptive signals critical for gaze stabilization and spatial orientation, particularly following ligament injuries.
Migraine & Neurological Conditions
Vestibular migraine, multiple sclerosis, acoustic neuroma, and central nervous system lesions can each produce chronic dizziness and balance disruption.
Medication Side Effects
Ototoxic medications, antihypertensives, and certain antibiotics can temporarily or permanently impair vestibular function.
Recognizing the Signs
Vertigo & Dizziness
Symptoms
Symptoms vary by underlying condition but commonly include one or more of the following. If your symptoms are sudden, severe, or accompanied by neurological signs, seek emergency care immediately.
Triggers to Watch For
- ✓ Rolling over in bed or sitting up quickly
- ✓ Looking up or bending forward
- ✓ Busy visual environments (crowds, screens)
- ✓ Turning the head quickly while walking
- ✓ Riding in vehicles or watching moving objects
🚨 Seek Emergency Care If:
Sudden severe headache, double vision, slurred speech, facial drooping, arm or leg weakness, or inability to walk accompany your dizziness. These may signal a stroke or other serious neurological event.
Evidence-Based Care
How Physiotherapy
Treats Vertigo
Our vestibular rehabilitation program is individually tailored following a comprehensive assessment. Most patients notice significant improvement within the first few sessions.
Comprehensive Vestibular Evaluation
Your physiotherapist conducts a detailed history and clinical assessment including positional testing (Dix-Hallpike, Roll Test), oculomotor screening (VOR, smooth pursuit, saccades), gaze stability, and balance and gait analysis. This identifies the specific vestibular structure or mechanism involved.
Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers
For BPPV, we use the Epley, Semont, or Barbecue Roll maneuver to guide displaced crystals back to their correct position. These are highly effective, non-invasive in-clinic procedures with over 90% success rates, often resolving symptoms in one to three appointments.
Gaze Stabilization & Habituation Exercises
For unilateral or bilateral vestibular hypofunction, we prescribe structured VOR (vestibulo-ocular reflex) exercises, gaze stabilization training, and habituation protocols. These promote central compensation — the brain learning to remap vestibular signals from the healthy side.
Balance & Postural Control Rehabilitation
Progressive balance challenges on stable and unstable surfaces, with eyes open and closed, in static and dynamic contexts. This retrains the sensory weighting between your vestibular, visual, and proprioceptive systems — particularly relevant when combined with our musculoskeletal physiotherapy team for cervicogenic dizziness.
Personalized Home Exercise Program
Clinically prescribed vestibular exercises performed daily at home significantly accelerate recovery. Your physiotherapist provides a progressive, individualized program and adjusts it at each follow-up based on your response and symptom changes.
Fall Prevention & Return to Activity Planning
For older adults or those with complex presentations, we integrate fall risk screening, dual-task training, and functional mobility goals. We also coordinate care with physicians and specialists where required to ensure a safe, complete return to full activity and independence.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
Questions
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, caused by displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear. Physiotherapy — specifically the Epley maneuver and other canalith repositioning techniques — is the gold-standard first-line treatment recommended by clinical guidelines. Success rates exceed 90%, and symptoms often resolve within 1–3 sessions.
BPPV often resolves within 1–3 sessions using repositioning maneuvers. More complex vestibular disorders such as vestibular neuritis, PPPD, or chronic imbalance typically require 6–12 sessions of structured vestibular rehabilitation exercises. Your physiotherapist will provide a realistic timeline after your initial assessment.
Yes. Vestibular rehabilitation is performed by registered physiotherapists and is typically covered under extended health benefit plans. RCP Health offers direct billing to most major insurance providers, making the process as seamless as possible. Contact us to verify your coverage before your first appointment.
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness — the false sensation of spinning or rotation (either you or your surroundings moving). General dizziness is a broader term that includes lightheadedness, floating sensations, unsteadiness, and disorientation. Identifying which type you experience is a key part of our vestibular assessment.
BPPV has a recurrence rate of approximately 15–50% within one year. However, if symptoms return, they typically respond just as quickly to repeat treatment. Our team will teach you self-repositioning techniques (such as the modified Epley) for use at home if symptoms recur, and provide guidance on lifestyle factors that reduce recurrence risk.
No referral is required to book a vestibular physiotherapy assessment at RCP Health in Ontario. You can contact us directly to schedule your appointment. A physician referral may be required by some insurance plans for reimbursement — we recommend checking with your provider before your visit.
Getting Here
Find Us From
Your Area
RCP Health is conveniently located at #304, 700 Dorval Drive, Oakville, ON — at the QEW & Dorval Drive interchange, easily accessible from Oakville, Burlington, and Mississauga.
From Oakville
Oakville Place Mall
Head west on Leighland Ave, continue to Dorval Drive, then north to 700 Dorval Drive. Approximately 5–7 minutes by car.
Get Directions ↗From Burlington
Joseph Brant Hospital
Take the QEW East toward Oakville, exit at Dorval Drive, then head north. RCP Health is approximately 12–15 minutes from Burlington.
Get Directions ↗From Mississauga
Square One Shopping Centre
Head south on Hurontario St, connect to QEW West, exit at Dorval Drive. RCP Health is approximately 20 minutes from Square One.
Get Directions ↗Start Your Recovery Today
Ready to Find Your Balance Again?
Our vestibular physiotherapists in Oakville are ready to assess your condition and design a personalized treatment plan — so you can get back to the life vertigo has been keeping you from.