General Vestibular
If you're dealing with dizziness in the Indianapolis area, you have several treatment options. But here's the thing: not all dizziness treatment is created equal. What works brilliantly for one person might not touch your symptoms. And what you've tried so far might not have been the right fit for what's actually going on in your body.
Here's what most people don't realize: balance issues aren't always the same as vestibular disorders.
Many patients tell us they tried general PT for weeks and felt frustrated. The therapist was wonderful, but the exercises didn't target what was actually broken.
If you've seen an ENT, you're on the right track. These specialists understand the inner ear and can identify problems that other doctors might miss.
But you're still dizzy.
This is where things get specific. And when you're dealing with something as complex as your vestibular system, specific matters.
Not all physical therapists can perform these techniques safely or effectively. A study on vestibular rehabilitation found that many therapists lack the equipment and experience to treat anything beyond basic BPPV.
You need someone who has seen hundreds of cases like yours. Someone who can tell the difference between pure BPPV and positional vertigo from poor compensation after a labyrinthine injury. Someone who knows when to modify exercises because your condition is fluctuating.
The evidence for vestibular rehabilitation is strong:
Whether that's an ENT, a specialized vestibular therapist, or a combination of both depends on what's causing your dizziness. But what matters most is that you find providers with real expertise in vestibular disorders — not just general experience with "balance issues."
If you're in the Indianapolis area and ready to work with someone who specializes in exactly what you're experiencing, we'd love to help.
Dizziness Treatment in Indianapolis: Which Option Is Right for You?
Carly Clevenger
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8 min read
If you're dealing with dizziness in Indianapolis, you have several treatment options — but not all are created equal. Learn how general PT, ENT care, and specialized vestibular therapy compare, and which approach is right for your specific symptoms.
Have you been to three doctors, tried two medications, and done exercises that your cousin found on YouTube — and you're still dizzy?
You're not making it up. And you're definitely not alone.
If you're dealing with dizziness in the Indianapolis area, you have several treatment options. But here's the thing: not all dizziness treatment is created equal. What works brilliantly for one person might not touch your symptoms. And what you've tried so far might not have been the right fit for what's actually going on in your body.
Let's break down your options so you can make an informed choice about where to go next.
Option 1: General Physical Therapy
Many people start here, and for good reason. Your doctor mentions "balance issues," you get a referral to physical therapy, and you show up ready to feel better.
What It Typically Includes
General physical therapy often focuses on:
• Basic balance exercises (standing on one foot, walking heel-to-toe)
• Strengthening exercises for your legs and core
• Gait training to improve how you walk
• General coordination drills
Who It Works Well For
If your dizziness is related to muscle weakness, deconditioning, or general balance problems without an inner ear component, this can be helpful. Athletes recovering from injuries or older adults working on fall prevention might see good results.
The Limitation
Here's what most people don't realize: balance issues aren't always the same as vestibular disorders.
If your dizziness comes from your inner ear or how your brain processes balance information, basic balance exercises often won't address the root cause. You might even feel worse after sessions because the exercises can provoke symptoms without the specialized techniques needed to actually retrain your vestibular system. Learn more about what vestibular therapy actually involves.
Many patients tell us they tried general PT for weeks and felt frustrated. The therapist was wonderful, but the exercises didn't target what was actually broken.
Option 2: ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) Doctors and Medical Management
If you've seen an ENT, you're on the right track. These specialists understand the inner ear and can identify problems that other doctors might miss.
What ENTs Can Diagnose and Treat
ENTs are essential for diagnosing conditions like:
• Meniere's disease — where fluid buildup in the inner ear causes vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus
• Vestibular migraine — dizziness triggered by migraine pathways (a condition that's often misunderstood and underdiagnosed)
• Labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis — infections or inflammation of the inner ear
• Acoustic neuroma — a benign tumor on the hearing and balance nerve
Medical Treatments ENTs Provide
Depending on your diagnosis, an ENT might recommend:
• Medications (diuretics for Meniere's, migraine preventatives, anti-nausea drugs)
• Dietary changes (low-sodium diet for Meniere's)
• Steroid injections into the ear
• In rare cases, surgery
Why Medication Alone Often Isn't Enough
Here's what we see all the time: an ENT correctly diagnoses your condition and prescribes medication to manage symptoms. The medication helps — maybe you're less nauseous, maybe attacks are less frequent.
But you're still dizzy.
That's because medication can control symptoms or slow disease progression, but it doesn't retrain your brain and body to compensate for vestibular dysfunction. Research shows that 80-85% of people with chronic vestibular problems see significant improvement with vestibular rehabilitation, even when medication alone hasn't resolved their symptoms.
Think of it this way: if you sprain your ankle, pain medication helps, but you also need physical therapy to restore full function. Your vestibular system works the same way.
Option 3: Specialized Vestibular Physical Therapy
This is where things get specific. And when you're dealing with something as complex as your vestibular system, specific matters.
What Makes It Different
Specialized vestibular physical therapy involves therapists who have completed advanced training in treating inner ear and balance disorders. We're talking about therapists who understand:
• The anatomy and physiology of your vestibular system
• How different vestibular conditions present and progress
• Specific diagnostic tests to pinpoint exactly what's wrong
• Condition-specific treatments that actually work
Specialized Techniques You Won't Get Elsewhere
Vestibular therapists use treatments that require specialized training:
• Canalith repositioning (Epley maneuver) — for BPPV, this technique has over 80% success rates in clinical studies. It's not just "lie down and turn your head" — it's a precise sequence that moves displaced crystals out of your ear canals. Read more about BPPV treatment.
• Gaze stabilization exercises — to retrain your eyes and brain to work together when your head moves
• Habituation therapy — controlled exposure to movements that trigger your symptoms, which helps your brain adapt and reduce sensitivity over time
• Balance retraining — but done in a way that addresses your specific vestibular deficits, not just general balance
Why Training and Experience Matter
Not all physical therapists can perform these techniques safely or effectively. A study on vestibular rehabilitation found that many therapists lack the equipment and experience to treat anything beyond basic BPPV.
You need someone who has seen hundreds of cases like yours. Someone who can tell the difference between pure BPPV and positional vertigo from poor compensation after a labyrinthine injury. Someone who knows when to modify exercises because your condition is fluctuating.
That expertise makes the difference between exercises that provoke your symptoms without helping, and exercises that systematically retrain your system.
What the Research Shows
The evidence for vestibular rehabilitation is strong:
• Most people who stick with their prescribed exercises see dramatic relief within 4-6 weeks
• Vestibular rehabilitation is effective for both short-term and long-term symptom management
• It works for unilateral vestibular hypofunction, post-concussion dizziness, chronic motion intolerance from migraine, and residual symptoms after BPPV treatment
Finding Specialized Vestibular Care in the Indianapolis Area
Not every physical therapist or clinic can provide true vestibular rehabilitation. Here's what to look for:
Questions to Ask
• "What additional training do your therapists have in vestibular rehabilitation?"
• "How many patients with vestibular disorders do you treat each month?"
• "What conditions do you commonly treat?" (You want to hear BPPV, vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, vestibular migraine, concussion — not just "balance issues")
Red Flags
• A therapist who dismisses your concerns or makes you feel like you're overreacting
• A clinic that doesn't mention vestibular-specific training on their website
• Treatment that makes your symptoms significantly worse without a clear explanation of why that's part of the process
• A therapist who seems unfamiliar with your diagnosis or how to treat it specifically
You Deserve a Provider Who Understands What You're Going Through
Living with dizziness isn't just physically exhausting — it's isolating. You look fine on the outside, so people don't understand why you can't drive to that dinner, why you need to sit down during your kid's soccer game, why you're using sick days just to lie still in a dark room.
The right treatment starts with someone who gets it. Someone who's seen this before, who knows exactly what questions to ask, and who has a specific plan for your specific symptoms.
Whether that's an ENT, a specialized vestibular therapist, or a combination of both depends on what's causing your dizziness. But what matters most is that you find providers with real expertise in vestibular disorders — not just general experience with "balance issues."
If you're in the Indianapolis area and ready to work with someone who specializes in exactly what you're experiencing, we'd love to help.
At Dizzy Free PT in Fishers, we focus exclusively on vestibular and post-concussion dizziness. We've helped hundreds of people in your shoes — people who've tried everything and felt dismissed, people who just want their lives back.
Call us at (317) 804-1222 or visit our website to schedule a consultation. Let's figure out what's really going on and create a plan that's tailored to you.
You deserve to feel steady again. Let us help you get there.
We do more than treat symptoms — we listen, dig deep, and help you understand what's really going on. Through expert care, honest guidance, and a whole lot of support, we help you move from feeling overwhelmed to steady, confident, and back in control.
References
- Hall CD, Herdman SJ, Whitney SL, et al. Vestibular Rehabilitation for Peripheral Vestibular Hypofunction: An Updated Clinical Practice Guideline From the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy of the American Physical Therapy Association. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2022;46(2):118-177.
- Bhattacharyya N, Gubbels SP, Schwartz SR, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (Update). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2017;156(3_suppl):S1-S47.
- McDonnell MN, Hillier SL. Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD005397.
