The vestibular system sits in the inner ear and sends signals to your eyes and brain to keep you steady and keep your vision clear while you move. Three semicircular canals sense head turns, and two otolith organs sense linear movement. When these sensors are irritated, blocked, or weakened, you may feel vertigo, dizziness, or unsteadiness.
Vestibular physiotherapy is an assessment-and-exercise approach that helps your system relearn stable gaze and balance. Your physiotherapist identifies which parts of the system are involved and prescribes targeted activities that help you recover normal movement in day-to-day tasks like getting out of bed, walking outside, or returning to sports and driving.
People with spinning spells, motion sensitivity, or blurry vision while moving the head often benefit. It is also used after inner ear infections, after a concussion, and for balance loss related to aging or reduced inner ear function.
Many people in Montreal’s West Island notice patterns when the inner ear or related systems are affected. If you recognize several items below, a vestibular assessment can help identify the cause and a clear plan forward.
Dizziness and vertigo
Spinning or a strong sense of movement
Lightheadedness or a feeling of floating
Brief attacks when rolling in bed, looking up, or bending
Vision changes during movement
Blurry or “shaky” vision when turning the head
Trouble focusing in grocery aisles or busy environments
Eye strain, difficulty reading, or screen intolerance
Balance and walking issues
Unsteady gait or frequent near-falls
Drifting to one side, veering on curbs, or needing a handrail
Reduced confidence walking outside or in the dark
Sensitivity and nausea
Motion sensitivity in cars, buses, or on bridges
Nausea, queasiness, or cold sweats with head movement
Fatigue after activities that challenge balance
Masters runners. As strength and mobility change with age, assessment highlights areas to maintain so you can keep running confidently and reduce injury risk.
Head, neck, and thinking symptoms
Headaches, neck tightness, or pressure
Brain fog, slowed thinking, or difficulty multitasking
Heightened anxiety related to dizziness episodes
Ear-related changes
Fullness in one ear, ringing (tinnitus), or fluctuating hearing
Sensation of air or fluid shift with pressure changes
Symptoms can overlap across conditions, which is why targeted testing is important. If these sound familiar, book an assessment at Endura Physio to get clear answers and next steps.
Your first visit focuses on finding the cause of your symptoms. We review your history, triggers, and medication list, then complete tests such as eye movement tracking, head impulse testing, dynamic visual acuity, Dix–Hallpike and supine roll tests, and standing balance checks. Findings guide your plan so you know what to work on between sessions in our West Island clinic and at home.
When crystals in the inner ear move into the wrong canal, brief spinning can occur with rolling in bed or looking up. We use proven maneuvers such as the Epley or the BBQ roll (Lempert) to move the crystals back. We also teach safe at-home steps when appropriate and check that symptoms resolve.
If vision blurs when you turn your head, we use gaze drills that retrain the vestibulo-ocular reflex. Examples include VOR x1 and VOR x2 with simple letter targets. We progress from seated to standing to walking, adjusting speed and duration based on your test results and daily goals.
For motion or visual sensitivity, we design a graded plan that repeats specific movements until the response settles. Typical items include bending, looking up, quick head turns, busy store aisles, or scrolling on screens. The goal is steady improvement without flares, using trackable sets and rest intervals.
We rebuild confidence and safety with stance progressions, weight shifting, step and turn practice, and walking tasks that add head movement. When safe, we add dual-task drills and variable surfaces to prepare you for curbs, crowds, and uneven ground.
You receive a written or digital plan with clear photos or video links, reps, timing, and weekly progressions. This keeps sessions efficient and lets you measure improvement between visits.
If bedside tests suggest a complex or unclear presentation, we coordinate videonystagmography (VNG) to record eye movements and confirm the involved structures. Results help refine the plan and set realistic timelines for recovery.
Short virtual follow-ups are available to review technique, update progressions, and answer questions. This option works well for light symptom reviews, travel weeks, or simple program adjustments.
Brief spinning when rolling in bed, looking up, or bending. We confirm the involved canal with positional tests and use canalith repositioning maneuvers to resolve symptoms, then recheck.
Sudden dizziness and imbalance following a virus or ear inflammation. Rehab focuses on gaze stability, balance practice, and a steady return to walking and daily tasks.
Head motion may blur vision, busy places feel overwhelming, and neck symptoms often add to the problem. We combine vestibular drills, balance work, and neck care where indicated.
People may have longer lasting balance, eye movement, and walking challenges. We build a stepwise program with clear goals that fits medical guidance and daily routines.
Episodic vertigo with ear fullness, ringing, or fluctuating hearing. Therapy supports recovery between attacks with gaze and balance work, plus pacing strategies for daily life.
Neck pain and stiffness can disturb head-eye coordination. Care includes neck mobility and strengthening alongside vestibular and balance exercises.
Non-spinning dizziness that worsens in complex visual settings. We use graded exposure, visual-vestibular exercises, and simple tracking so progress is visible.
Vertigo with or without headache, often triggered by motion or visual patterns. We coordinate with your physician while using vestibular rehab to improve tolerance to head movement and busy environments.
Changes in vision, sensation, strength, and inner ear function can reduce confidence. Targeted balance practice and safe walking progressions lower risk and improve independence.
One or both inner ears are underperforming, causing unsteady gait and blurry vision with head turns. We use gaze stabilization and walking drills that gradually increase speed and complexity.
Symptoms may rise with pressure changes, lifting, or straining. We work in concert with ENT guidance, emphasize symptom-safe activity progressions, and address balance and gaze stability.
Our clinicians complete extra vestibular coursework and use standardized bedside tests such as Dix-Hallpike, head impulse, and dynamic visual acuity. You get a focused assessment that points to the likely cause and a plan that fits daily life in Montreal’s West Island.
Sessions are one-on-one from start to finish. You work with the same physiotherapist who evaluates you, explains findings, and progresses your program.
We explain what is driving your dizziness in plain language. When useful, we coordinate videonystagmography to confirm findings and fine-tune your plan.
We track change with simple, repeatable checks like reading while moving your head, timed balance holds, and walking tolerance. You see your progress session to session.
Most private health plans in Quebec include physiotherapy. Coverage varies by plan. If you have questions about limits or the need for a doctor’s note, check your benefits portal or call your insurer. We provide itemized receipts after each visit so you can submit claims easily.
Public insurance (RAMQ) does not cover private clinic physiotherapy. If you qualify for a publicly funded program through a hospital or CLSC, we can suggest how to access those services while you wait.
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