Post-Concussion Dizziness Treatment

Dizziness is one of the most common symptoms following a concussion, affecting up to 80 percent of people after a head injury. While most concussion symptoms resolve within two to four weeks, some patients develop persistent post-concussion symptoms that can last months or longer without proper treatment.

Post-concussion dizziness can stem from several sources, and many patients experience more than one at the same time:

• Disruption of the vestibular (inner ear) system from the impact
• Cervical spine injury sustained during the head trauma
• Changes in visual processing and eye movement coordination
• Autonomic nervous system dysfunction affecting blood pressure regulation
• BPPV (displaced inner ear crystals) triggered by the head injury

Understanding which mechanism is driving your dizziness is essential for effective treatment. Many patients have been told to simply rest and wait, but research now shows that active rehabilitation produces faster and more complete recovery than rest alone.

Physical therapy — particularly vestibular and cervical rehabilitation — is one of the most effective interventions for persistent post-concussion dizziness and is supported by strong research evidence.

Our approach starts with a comprehensive assessment to identify all contributing factors to your dizziness. Because post-concussion symptoms often have multiple overlapping causes, treatment is tailored to your specific findings.

Treatment may include:

• Vestibular rehabilitation — Gaze stabilization, habituation, and balance exercises tailored to your specific vestibular deficits
• Cervicogenic dizziness treatment — Manual therapy and exercises for cervical spine dysfunction that commonly accompanies concussion
• Visual-vestibular integration — Exercises that retrain the coordination between your visual and balance systems, reducing sensitivity to busy environments
• Graded exercise protocol — Progressive aerobic exercise following the Buffalo Concussion Treadmill Test protocol to promote neurological recovery
• BPPV treatment — Repositioning maneuvers if positional vertigo is present, which is common after head trauma
• Return-to-activity planning — Graduated protocols for safe return to sport, work, or school

Every session is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist trained in both vestibular and concussion rehabilitation. This allows us to address the complex, multi-system nature of post-concussion dizziness in a coordinated way rather than treating each symptom in isolation.

Your evaluation will include vestibular testing, cervical spine assessment, balance evaluation, oculomotor screening, and assessment of exercise tolerance. This comprehensive approach helps us create a treatment plan that addresses all sources of your dizziness rather than just one component.

Recovery timelines vary based on the severity of your concussion and how long symptoms have been present. Patients who begin treatment within the first few weeks after concussion typically recover faster than those who have been symptomatic for months. Most patients see meaningful improvement within four to eight weeks of consistent treatment, with a typical course of care running six to twelve sessions.

We coordinate with your physician throughout your care and provide guidance on activity modification, screen time management, and return-to-activity protocols. If you are a student or athlete, we work within established concussion return-to-learn and return-to-play guidelines to ensure a safe progression.

For your first visit, wear comfortable clothing and supportive shoes. Bring your insurance card, any concussion evaluation records, and imaging reports if available. Delaware does not require a physician referral to begin physical therapy, and we accept Medicare and most major insurance plans. Our office staff will verify your benefits before your first appointment.