Condition’s Commonly Treated

Dizziness

What is Dizziness?

Dizziness is a broad, non-specific term used to describe a false sensation of motion of the body. Associated dizziness symptoms may include: light-headedness, giddiness and unsteadiness. Vertigo differs as it involves a specific sensation of the room/ environment spinning. Vertigo is highly characteristic of an inner ear (vestibular) issue, while dizziness can have numerous contributing factors, including the neck (cervicogenic dizziness – CGD).

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common type of vertigo. It is associated with reoccurring, short-lasting bouts of dizziness caused by changes in head position. For example, sudden sensations of the room spinning when rolling or getting out of bed. BPPV can also be associated with nausea and loss of balance. As frightening as BPPV can be, there is a pathophysiological reason as to why people experience it, and successful physiotherapy treatment for it.

BPPV occurs when crystals from the inner ear (otoconia) become dislodged from the sensory site in the ear (utricle) and migrate into one of the three semicircular canals where they are not supposed to be. Normally, the crystals are attached to hair-like cells inside the utricle. This attachment allows our brains to recognise changes in head position and tells us where our head is in space. In the case of BPPV the dislodged crystals disrupt this process, resulting in disorientation and spinning sensations.

Physiotherapists are able to do specific vertigo tests to determine the likely position of these crystals. Then they may perform necessary treatment to re-position them to help alleviate vertigo symptoms.

Cervicogenic Dizziness

Cervicogenic Dizziness – CGD is similar to BPPV in that there is a clear relationship between cervical (neck) movement and symptoms. However, CGD is a diagnosis of exclusion that is associated with vague sensations of dizziness, rather than the rotatory, spinning sensation as experienced with vertigo. Signs and symptoms of CGD may include unsteadiness and disorientation but also neck pain, limited neck range of motion and cervicogenic headaches (headaches stemming from the upper cervical spine).

Treatment

Physiotherapists are able to differentially diagnose and exclude types of dizziness with a comprehensive series of questions and special tests to reproduce symptoms. Depending on the type of dizziness, physiotherapy treatment may involve manoeuvres to reposition the crystals
within the ear (eg. Epley’s manoeuvre) or treatment to the neck for CGD, both of which can be very helpful to ease symptoms. Through the assessment, physiotherapists are also able to determine if your dizziness symptoms are not caused by the above mentioned conditions and will triage
and refer on to any necessary health professional.

Appointments with one of our Physiotherapists can be requested by clicking here.

Meet Our Expert Physio’s

Our physiotherapists, Kathryn Meade, Marco Mittiga and Clare Turnbull, are experts in dizziness and vertigo. You can learn more about them in depth below.

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Marco Mittiga

Marco is a Physiotherapist in Adelaide with an interest in Sports injuries and Orthopaedic/Post Surgical Rehabilitation.

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Marco Mittiga graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree from the University of South Australia in 2014. He has worked as a physiotherapist in a variety of workplace settings including private practice, public hospital settings, and aged care facilities. His work has been focused on managing a wide range of musculoskeletal, spinal and orthopaedic conditions among paediatric, adult and geriatric patient groups. Marco is experienced in orthopaedic and post surgical rehabilitation, chronic pain, women’s health and dry needling.

Marco has a great passion for sports and sports injuries, having played and worked as a physiotherapist for the senior team at Adelaide City Football Club. He also has a keen interest in neck pain and headaches.

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Kathryn Meade

Kathryn is a leading Women’s Health and Occupational Physiotherapist in Adelaide.

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Kathryn Meade graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in 1998. Following this she commenced work in a public hospital setting, focusing on managing a wide range of musculoskeletal, spinal and Orthopaedic conditions. Over the last several years she has developed skills managing a wide range of Women’s Health issues such as conditions arising during the Antenatal and Post-natal periods, Incontinence, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction syndromes and Osteoporosis. She also has a keen interest and developed skills in Occupational and Industrial physiotherapy and is accredited to perform Functional Capacity Evaluations, Activities of Daily Living Assessments, Work-site Assessments, Job Analysis Assessments and Pre-employment screenings.

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Jasmin Pui

Jasmin Pui is a Physio in Adelaide that holds an interest in Women’s Health and musculo-skeletal physiotherapy.

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Jasmin Pui graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy from the University of South Australia in 2019.

Jasmin’s previous placements include; UniSA City East Allied Health Clinic, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Women’s Children’s Hospital and Modbury Special School, UniSA City West Health and Medical Clinic.

Jasmin is a Certified Practitioner of Pilates Mat (Polestar Pilates Education) and has a Certificate for Studio and Rehab Pilates (Polestar Pilates Education). She also holds a Diploma of Polestar Pilates Comprehensive Instruction Method.

She has worked as a Pilates instructor (fitness and studio/rehab) for both physio and pilates practices – since 2018 in private practice and aged care.

Jasmin’s further career achievements and qualifications include Trigger Point Dry Needling, Australian Physiotherapy Association Women’s Health Level 1 – Women’s Pelvic Health and Women’s Health Through Life Stages.

Her special interests include Antenatal, Post-natal assessment, Urinary stress incontinence, Urinary urgency incontinence, Pelvic floor dysfunction. Jasmin is also experienced in managing a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions including headache, neck, back and shoulder pain.

Outside of work Jasmin enjoys practising Pilates, hiking, exploring new cafes and spending time at the beach with her partner and puppy pretzel.

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John-Paul Chitti

John-Paul is a Titled APA Sports and Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist in Adelaide with an interest in Orthopaedic/Post-Surgical Rehabilitation.

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John-Paul Chitti graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree from the University of South Australia in 2000. Following two years of working in a Medical Specialist Centre, he completed his Masters Degree in Sports & Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy and established Pro Physio SA. John-Paul was physiotherapist for the Adelaide United Football Club for 3 years from 2006, where he co-ordinated the club’s injury prevention, management and rehabilitation within a cohesive Medical Team that assisted the club in their successful Asian Champions League and A-League competition. John-Paul has been a Clinical Educator at the University of South Australia in both the undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. He holds an interest in Sports Injuries, particularly of the Wrist/Hand, Shoulder, Hip/Groin and Spine. He also has a special interest in Orthopaedic/Post-Surgical Rehabilitation.

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Jonathan Norodom

Jonathan is an Adelaide trained Physiotherapist with an interest in Sports and work related injuries.

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Jonathan Norodom graduated with a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree from the University of South Australia in 2019.

Jonathan holds an interest in musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy which stems from his own active lifestyle and experience as a sports trainer for The Adelaide Uni Blacks Football Club. He is particularly interested in rehabilitation and management of sporting injuries for athletes at all levels through strength and conditioning and education.

Jonathan is passionate about promoting optimal life-long outcomes for his patients through encouraging self-management strategies and utilising hands on treatment as well as dry needling. He also understands the importance of incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach and collaborating with other Allied Health Professionals.

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