BALANCE & VESTIBULAR
Specialized treatment for dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, and post-concussion symptoms — in-person at our Lawrenceville clinic and via virtual visits across Georgia.
If the room is spinning when you roll over in bed, if you've felt unsteady on the trails at Sawnee Mountain, if a recent concussion left you struggling with focus and balance, or if you've started noticing your balance isn't what it used to be — these aren't just things to live with. They're treatable.
Vestibular and balance disorders are among the most common reasons people lose confidence in their own movement. They're also one of the most under-treated, because most patients don't know there's an entire specialty of physical therapy dedicated to them.
Conditions We Treat
The balance and vestibular system involves the inner ear, the eyes, sensors in your joints and muscles, and the brain regions that integrate all of that input. When any part of that system is disrupted, you get symptoms like:
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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) — the most common cause of vertigo. Triggered by head position changes (rolling over in bed, looking up). Often resolves quickly with a guided maneuver like the Epley.
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Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis — inflammation of the inner ear or vestibular nerve, often following a viral illness. Acute vertigo, nausea, imbalance — usually severe at first, improving with treatment.
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Post-concussion symptoms — dizziness, brain fog, exercise intolerance, sensitivity to busy visual environments. Vestibular and oculomotor rehab is now the standard-of-care recovery approach.
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Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD) — chronic dizziness that lingers after the original trigger has resolved. Treated with graded exposure, vestibular habituation, and visual desensitization.
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Age-related balance decline and fall risk — the most common reason older adults end up here. Strength, balance training, and reaction-time work measurably reduce fall risk.
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Multiple sclerosis, post-stroke, and Parkinson's balance challenges — ongoing vestibular and balance work is part of long-term care.
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General imbalance and unsteadiness without a specific diagnosis — common in adults over 60, and treatable.
Don't wait. Early evaluation produces better outcomes for most balance and vestibular conditions, and continuing to compensate by avoiding movement makes the problem harder to address later.
Reach out if:
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You've had vertigo, dizziness, or unsteadiness lasting more than a few days
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You're recovering from a concussion and still have symptoms
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You've fallen — even once — and want to reduce the risk of falling again
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You feel unsteady walking on uneven surfaces, in low light, or in crowded environments
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Your doctor has mentioned "vestibular dysfunction" or recommended vestibular PT
Under Georgia's direct-access law, you don't need a physician referral to see a physical therapist for most conditions. Your insurance may have specific requirements; we can help clarify.
When to See a Vestibular PT
What Treatment Looks Like
The first visit is always a thorough evaluation: a detailed history, vestibular testing (eye-tracking, positional tests, balance assessment), and a discussion of what you've been experiencing in your daily life. From there, your therapist designs a treatment plan specific to your diagnosis.
Common treatment approaches include:
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Canalith repositioning maneuvers like the Epley for BPPV — often resolves vertigo within 1–2 visits
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Vestibular habituation exercises — gradual exposure to the movements that trigger symptoms, retraining the brain to tolerate them
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Gaze stabilization training — exercises that retrain how your eyes and inner ear work together
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Balance retraining — progressive challenges on stable and unstable surfaces, eyes open and closed, single-leg work
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Strength training for the legs, hips, and core that support balance
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Reaction-time and stepping drills for fall prevention
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Education on managing symptoms in daily life — how to move safely, how to progress activity, when to push and when to back off
Treatment timelines vary. BPPV often resolves in 1–3 visits. Post-concussion recovery is usually 4–12 weeks of consistent work. Age-related balance training is an ongoing program — you'll do an initial intensive block, then maintenance.
Why People in Gwinnett County Come to NexStep PT for This
Vestibular and balance therapy is a specialty within physical therapy — not every clinic offers it. We do, both in-person at our Lawrenceville clinic (925 River Centre Pl.) and virtually for patients across Georgia who can't easily travel during acute symptoms.
Our patient mix includes older adults from across Gwinnett County and north Atlanta-metro working on fall prevention, post-concussion athletes, adults dealing with BPPV and post-viral vestibular issues, and patients managing chronic conditions like MS or Parkinson's that affect balance.