Dizziness, Vertigo & Balance Physio in Oakham

Dizziness and balance problems treated at home in Oakham

Dizziness is common, especially as we get older, and it can be frightening. Feeling that the room is spinning, feeling unsteady on your feet, or being afraid to turn your head or walk outside can make everyday life very small. The good news is that many of the most common causes respond well to the right exercises and treatment.

Twinkle is trained in vestibular rehabilitation, which is the assessment and treatment of dizziness and balance problems. She sees people at home in Oakham, which matters: if you are dizzy, getting to a clinic is the hard part, and your balance is best worked on in the place you need it, your own home.

Problems Twinkle can help with

Vertigo when you turn over in bed

Short spells of spinning when you lie down, roll over, or look up. This is often BPPV, caused by tiny crystals in the inner ear moving out of place, and it can often be treated with a simple repositioning manoeuvre.

Dizziness after an inner ear infection

After labyrinthitis or vestibular neuritis, some people are left feeling off balance for weeks or months. Exercises help the brain adjust.

Unsteadiness and poor balance

Feeling wobbly, holding on to furniture, or struggling in the dark or on uneven ground.

Fear of falling

Losing confidence after a fall or a near miss, and starting to do less because of it.

Dizziness with other conditions

Balance problems that come with a stroke, Parkinson's or other neurological conditions, one of Twinkle's specialist areas.

Light-headedness when standing

Twinkle will check for this and advise you to see your GP where it needs medical review, for example a medication change.

How vestibular rehabilitation works

The inner ear, eyes and muscles all send balance information to the brain. When one part is not working properly, the brain can learn to compensate, but it needs the right practice to do it. Vestibular rehabilitation gives you that practice in small, safe steps.

Repositioning manoeuvres for BPPV, where the assessment shows they are suitable. These are gentle head and body movements that move the crystals back where they belong.
Gaze stability exercises to help your eyes stay steady when your head moves.
Balance training standing, turning and walking tasks that build up gradually, made safe for your home.
Getting back to everyday life practice with the things that set off your symptoms, such as bending, turning, stairs and walking outside.

Keeping you safe from falls

Dizziness and falls are closely linked. As well as treating the dizziness, Twinkle looks at the things around your home that make a fall more likely, such as rugs, lighting, stairs and getting in and out of bed, and helps you build strength in your legs. See also falls prevention in Oakham and the free balance exercises guide, which you can print at home.

Call 999 straight away if dizziness comes on suddenly with any of these: a drooping face, weakness or numbness in an arm or leg, slurred speech, double or lost vision, a severe headache, or being unable to walk. These can be signs of a stroke. See your GP for dizziness with hearing loss, ringing in one ear, fainting or chest pain.

What the first visit involves

A careful history: what the dizziness feels like, how long it lasts, what sets it off, and your medicines and other health conditions.
Assessment: eye movements, positional tests where they are safe for you, balance, walking, and the strength in your legs.
A clear explanation of what is most likely causing your symptoms, in plain terms.
Treatment on the day where it is suitable, such as a repositioning manoeuvre for BPPV.
A short exercise plan that fits your home and your day, with advice for family or carers if that helps.

Why Twinkle

Twinkle is an HCPC registered physiotherapist with a Master's degree in community-based rehabilitation and geriatrics. She has worked in NHS services in Leicester, the health system that also serves Rutland, managing her own caseload of patients with musculoskeletal, neurological, heart and lung conditions, and in a Leicester GP practice.

She is trained in vestibular rehabilitation, the assessment and treatment of dizziness and balance problems, and much of her work is with older adults. She is known for being warm, patient and easy to talk to, and she speaks English, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Marathi. Because she comes to you, there is no drive into Oakham, no parking and no waiting room when you are sore or unsteady.

Your physiotherapist in Oakham

Twinkle Patel

Specialist Elderly Care & Neurological Physiotherapist

MSc Physiotherapy (Community-Based Rehabilitation & Geriatrics), HCPC Registered (PH139700), MCSP
Vestibular rehabilitation for dizziness and balance
Home visits across Oakham and the rest of Rutland

Call Twinkle on 07767 564 616

Please mention Mobile Physiotherapist.co.uk when you call.

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Home visits across Oakham

Twinkle visits homes right across Oakham and the villages around it, including Barleythorpe, Langham, Egleton, Braunston-in-Rutland and Burley, and the rest of Rutland. Oakham is the county town, so many people here have had treatment at Rutland Memorial Hospital in the town, or at Leicester Royal Infirmary or Peterborough City Hospital, and want to carry on their recovery at home. See the Oakham page for everything Twinkle offers locally.

Helpful guides

Frequently asked questions

Can physiotherapy help vertigo?

Yes, for many common causes. BPPV, the most common cause of spinning when you turn over in bed, can often be treated with a repositioning manoeuvre, and dizziness after an inner ear infection usually improves with vestibular exercises.

Is it safe to treat dizziness at home?

Yes. Twinkle checks first whether the tests and treatment are safe for you, and works on your balance in your own home, where it matters most.

Should I see my GP first?

You do not need a referral. If your dizziness is new and you have not seen a doctor, it is still sensible to, and Twinkle will tell you if anything in her assessment needs medical review.

How many visits will I need?

BPPV often settles within one to three visits. Balance problems and dizziness after an inner ear infection usually take a few weeks of exercises, with visits spaced out as you improve.

Can family members be there?

Of course. It often helps, especially if a family member or carer will help with the exercises between visits.

How much does it cost?

A first visit for dizziness and balance is usually £70, with follow-ups at £60. Where dizziness comes with a neurological condition, such as a stroke or Parkinson's, neurological rates apply (£80 and £70). The phone call before you book is free. See Twinkle's prices.