Dizziness & Balance Clinic
Helping you feel steadier, move with confidence, and get back to doing the things you enjoy
Dizziness and balance difficulties can affect your confidence, independence, and ability to enjoy everyday activities. Our Dizziness & Balance Clinic provides specialised assessment and treatment to help you better understand your symptoms and take steps towards feeling steadier and more confident.
Our service is led by trained vestibular physiotherapists with expertise in assessing and treating dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems. Whether you experience a spinning sensation when turning in bed, feel unsteady on your feet, or struggle with dizziness when moving your head, we're here to help.
When the vestibular system isn't working as it should, you may experience symptoms such as:
Dizziness or vertigo: Feeling dizzy or as though you or the room are spinning.
Balance difficulties: Feeling unsteady when standing or walking, sometimes with an increased risk of falls.
Nausea or motion sickness: Feeling unwell with movement or changes in head position.
Light-headedness: Feeling faint, woozy, or unsteady.
Visual disturbance: Blurred or unstable vision, particularly when moving your head.
Movement sensitivity: Feeling dizzy when rolling over in bed, looking up, bending down, or travelling in a car.
Difficulty with everyday activities: Finding it harder to walk confidently, read signs while moving, or tolerate busy visual environments.
Some inner-ear conditions may also be associated with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or changes in hearing.
Symptoms vary from person to person and can affect daily activities, independence, and quality of life. A thorough assessment can help determine whether vestibular dysfunction may be contributing to your symptoms and whether vestibular physiotherapy is appropriate for you.
Who is this for?
What to expect at your appointment
Your appointment begins with a detailed discussion about your symptoms, medical history, and how dizziness or balance difficulties affect your everyday life.
Your physiotherapist will then assess the systems that work together to maintain your balance, including your vision, vestibular system (inner ear), and proprioceptive system (the sensory information your muscles and joints provide about your body's position and movement).
This assessment helps us identify the possible cause of your symptoms and determine the most appropriate treatment for your needs.
We understand that dizziness can be unsettling, and some assessment techniques may temporarily bring on your symptoms. Your physiotherapist will explain each stage of the assessment and work with you at a pace appropriate to your symptoms and comfort.
How can we help?
BPPV treatment
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of brief episodes of vertigo, often triggered by changes in head position, such as rolling over in bed or looking up.
If BPPV is identified, your physiotherapist may perform a specialised repositioning manoeuvre to help move displaced particles within the inner ear. These manoeuvres are highly effective for many people with BPPV.
Vestibular rehabilitation
Vestibular rehabilitation is a personalised, exercise-based programme designed to reduce dizziness, improve balance, and help you move more comfortably and confidently.
Depending on your needs, your programme may include exercises to help your brain adapt to changes in inner-ear signals, improve your ability to keep your vision clear during head movements, or gradually increase your tolerance to movements that trigger symptoms.
Balance and stability training
Specific exercises can help improve your balance, coordination, and stability, making everyday activities such as walking, turning, and navigating uneven surfaces feel more manageable.
Practical advice and activity guidance
Your physiotherapist will help you understand your symptoms and provide strategies to manage them. Where appropriate, this may include guidance on gradually returning to activities that have become difficult or uncomfortable.
Our goal is to help you manage your symptoms, improve your function, and regain confidence in your daily life.
What is vestibular rehabilitation?
Vestibular rehabilitation is a movement- and exercise-based treatment programme designed by a trained physiotherapist to address dizziness and balance difficulties.
Depending on the cause of your symptoms, treatment may focus on:
-Improving balance, stability, and confidence with movement.
-Helping your brain adapt to changes in signals from your inner ear.
-Improving your ability to maintain clear vision while moving your head.
-Gradually improving your tolerance to movements and activities that trigger symptoms.
Your exercise programme will be tailored to your assessment findings, abilities, and goals, with progress guided by how you respond to treatment.
Living with dizziness or balance difficulties can be frustrating and sometimes frightening. You may find yourself avoiding activities you once enjoyed or feeling less confident about moving around. You don't have to manage these challenges alone.
With appropriate assessment and treatment, many people can improve their symptoms, balance, and confidence in everyday activities.
Pricing
Dizziness and Balance Clinic Assessment
$180: Private 50-60 minutes including associated administration
$121: Private 30-40 minutes including associated administration
*ACC eligibility applies where appropriate
Ready to get started?
You don't have to navigate dizziness alone. Our vestibular physiotherapists are here to help you understand your symptoms and find the most appropriate way forward.
Take the first step towards feeling steadier and moving with greater confidence.
To Book Your Assessment:
Currently Available in the WOOLSTON and FERRYMEAD clinics with our Senior Physiotherapists: Lizzie Kelso
Call 033266225 OR email: info@physio-nz.co.nz
Reception Hours
Mon – 8:00am to 7pm
Tue – 8:30am to 7pm
Wed – 8:00am to 5pm
Thur – 8:30 to 7pm
Fri – 8:00 to 4pm