Vestibular Migraine: How Physios Treat Migraines and Help with Dizziness.
Do you experience recurring dizziness or vertigo, sometimes with or without a headache? You may be dealing with vestibular migraine – a common but often underdiagnosed condition that links the migraine process with balance and inner ear symptoms.
At Motion Health Rehab in Capalaba and Underwood, our physiotherapists provide vestibular rehabilitation to help manage dizziness and imbalance related to vestibular migraine, alongside your medical treatment.
What Is Vestibular Migraine?
Vestibular migraine occurs when migraine activity affects the brain areas involved in balance and spatial orientation. Unlike typical migraines, vestibular migraine doesn’t always involve a headache.
Instead, dizziness or vertigo may be the main symptom, sometimes lasting minutes to hours.
Common Symptoms of Vestibular Migraine
Symptoms can vary, but may include:
- Episodes of dizziness or vertigo (minutes to hours)
- Motion sensitivity (feeling unsteady when moving your head or body)
- Imbalance or “rocking/swaying” sensations
- Headache (not always present)
- Sensitivity to light, sound, or visual motion
- Nausea during dizzy episodes
Vestibular migraine may be triggered by stress, poor sleep, diet, hormonal changes, or sensory overload.
How Is It Diagnosed?
There is no single test for vestibular migraine. Diagnosis is based on your symptoms, medical history, and ruling out other vestibular disorders. Your GP or neurologist usually makes the diagnosis.
At Motion Health Rehab, we work with your medical team to support management through vestibular rehabilitation.
How Can Physiotherapy Help Vestibular Migraine?
While medication and lifestyle strategies play a key role, vestibular physiotherapy can reduce dizziness, improve balance, and help manage motion sensitivity between attacks.
Physiotherapy for vestibular migraine may include:
- Balance retraining to reduce unsteadiness
- Habituation exercises to lessen motion-triggered dizziness
- Gaze stability exercises to improve visual focus during movement
- Education on activity pacing and symptom management
Our goal is to help you feel more confident and in control, even if migraine episodes still occur.
How Long Does Recovery Take?
Vestibular migraine is a long-term condition, but with the right combination of medical care, lifestyle changes, and physiotherapy, many people notice meaningful improvements in daily function and quality of life within weeks to months.
Get Support for Vestibular Migraine in Capalaba and Underwood
If you experience recurring dizziness or motion sensitivity, especially alongside migraines, you don’t have to manage it alone. Vestibular rehabilitation can make a real difference in reducing symptoms and improving daily life.
Our experienced physiotherapists at Motion Health Rehab provide individualised treatment and collaborate with your GP or neurologist to ensure you get the best care.
www.motionhealthrehab.com.au
Locations: Capalaba & Underwood & Bulimba & Brookwater
