Quick Summary
"Dizzy" is a word people use for several different sensations, and telling them apart is the first step to treating the right thing.
Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room is spinning. Light-headedness is the feeling that you might faint. Unsteadiness is the feeling that your balance is off when you walk. They point to different causes, and they are not treated the same way.
Vertigo triggered by head movement is one of the most treatable of the group, and physiotherapy is a first-line treatment for it.
What Is the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo?
Dizziness is the umbrella term. Vertigo is one specific type of dizziness — the spinning kind.
Describing which one you have makes a genuine difference to how quickly you get the right help, because each points somewhere different.
| What you feel | What it is usually called | Often points to |
|---|---|---|
| The room is spinning or tilting | Vertigo | The inner ear balance system |
| You might faint or black out | Light-headedness | Blood pressure or circulation |
| You are unsteady on your feet | Imbalance | Balance system, strength, or vision |
| Foggy, floating, disconnected | Non-specific dizziness | Many possible causes |
When you see a clinician, the most useful thing you can say is not "I feel dizzy" but what the dizziness actually feels like, and what you were doing when it started.
What Does Vertigo Actually Feel Like?
Vertigo is a spinning sensation, and it is usually short-lived and aggravated by head movement (HealthHub — BPPV).
That last part is the giveaway. Vertigo from the inner ear tends not to sit in the background all day — it arrives when your head changes position, and it settles when you keep still.
Our vestibular disorder page describes the sensation as feeling that you or your surroundings are moving even though you are not.
Why Do I Feel Dizzy When I Stand Up?
If the sensation is more "I might faint" than "the room is spinning", and it happens on standing, that is a different pattern.
One common cause is postural hypotension — a drop in blood pressure of more than 20mmHg systolic and 10mmHg diastolic when changing into an upright position. Symptoms generally occur after a change in position and include dizziness and light-headedness, along with palpitations, nausea, blurred vision and fainting (HealthHub — Postural Hypotension).
Causes can include dehydration, certain medications such as antihypertensives, and a number of medical conditions. This one belongs with your doctor rather than your physiotherapist — which is exactly why the distinction matters.
Why Do I Get Dizzy When I Turn Over in Bed?
Turning over in bed is one of the most recognisable triggers for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV.
BPPV is an inner ear dysfunction that causes dizziness when moving your head. Small calcium carbonate stones become dislodged from a sac in the inner ear and travel into the ear canals, stimulating them during head movements (HealthHub — BPPV).
The pattern is distinctive:
- Episodes last a few seconds to a minute, sometimes longer
- Vertigo is always aggravated by head movements — turning in bed, looking out the window while in a car, or looking up to reach something on a shelf
- It can occur spontaneously, or follow head trauma, ear trauma or an inner ear infection
If that description matches what you have been experiencing, it is worth getting assessed rather than waiting it out. BPPV responds well to treatment.
When Should I See a Doctor?
If your dizziness is sudden, severe or persistent, see a doctor first to rule out anything urgent. Physiotherapy comes after a diagnosis, not instead of one.
That is the position our own vestibular disorder page takes, and it is the right order for anyone who is not sure what they are dealing with.
How Does Physiotherapy Help?
For dizziness that comes from the inner ear balance system, physiotherapy is a first-line treatment rather than a last resort.
HealthHub lists physiotherapy for BPPV as including "repositioning manoeuvres, for example, the Epley's manoeuvre", alongside specific exercises that help the brain adapt to the movements that trigger symptoms. It notes that medication is used in the early stage to reduce vertigo and nausea, and is not intended for long-term use (HealthHub — BPPV).
At Physio & Sole Clinic, vestibular physiotherapy may include:
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) — targeted exercises to retrain the brain and body to respond better to balance signals
- Repositioning manoeuvres — specific techniques to treat BPPV by repositioning displaced inner ear crystals
- Balance and gait training — improving coordination, posture and fall prevention
- Education and home exercise programmes — customised routines you continue between sessions
Assessment may involve balance and gait tests, eye movement tracking, and positional tests such as the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre. Our physiotherapists may work alongside ENT specialists where that is appropriate.
Describing It Properly Is Half the Diagnosis
Most people arrive saying "I feel dizzy," and that single word covers four quite different problems.
- Spinning that comes with head movement points to the inner ear, and is very treatable.
- Feeling faint on standing points somewhere else entirely, and belongs with your doctor.
- Sudden, severe or persistent dizziness should be checked before anything else.
Noticing which one you have, and what you were doing when it started, is genuinely useful information to bring to your appointment.
Booking Vestibular Physiotherapy in Singapore?
Physio & Sole Clinic provides vestibular physiotherapy across 11 clinics in Singapore, with physiotherapists trained in vestibular rehabilitation.
Our team provides:
- Balance, gait and positional assessment, including the Dix-Hallpike manoeuvre
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy and repositioning manoeuvres for BPPV
- Balance and gait training, and home exercise programmes
- Collaborative care with ENT and neurological specialists where appropriate
If your dizziness has already been assessed by a doctor, book with the clinic nearest you and we will take it from there.
Read More About Vestibular Disorders · Find Your Nearest Clinic
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dizziness is the umbrella term for several sensations. Vertigo is the specific one where you or your surroundings feel like they are spinning, and it is usually short-lived and aggravated by head movement.
With BPPV, vertigo typically lasts a few seconds to a minute, and sometimes longer. It is triggered by head movements such as turning in bed or looking up.
This is a classic pattern for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), where small calcium carbonate stones become dislodged in the inner ear and stimulate the ear canals during head movement.
Yes, for vertigo arising from the inner ear balance system. HealthHub lists physiotherapy for BPPV as including repositioning manoeuvres such as the Epley's manoeuvre, alongside exercises that help the brain adapt to triggering movements.
See a doctor first if your dizziness is sudden, severe or persistent, so anything urgent can be ruled out. Once diagnosed, vestibular physiotherapy can support your recovery.
You do not need a referral to book with us for most services, though some insurers require one before approving a claim. If your dizziness has not been assessed by a doctor yet, see one first.
Some types, such as BPPV, can recur. Regular follow-up and keeping up with your physiotherapist's exercises help reduce the chance of recurrence.
