OTTAWA. Feeling dizzy or unsteady can be unsettling for anyone, but for athletes, especially soccer players, balance and spatial awareness are everything. A sudden wave of dizziness can make the difference between staying on your feet or losing control of a play. Whether caused by a head injury, inner ear issue, or tightness in the neck, dizziness and vertigo can disrupt both daily life and athletic performance.
At Ottawa Physiotherapy and Sport Clinics (OPTSC), our physiotherapists provide specialized vestibular rehabilitation to help patients, including athletes, regain balance, confidence, and control. With the right care, dizziness can often be managed or resolved entirely.
Understanding Dizziness and Vertigo
Although they are often used interchangeably, dizziness and vertigo are not the same thing.
- Dizziness describes a feeling of lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or disorientation.
- Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, even when you are standing still.
Both sensations can affect coordination, balance, and focus, which are three essentials for anyone on the soccer field.
Common Causes
Dizziness and vertigo can come from a variety of issues, many of which respond well to physiotherapy.
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Small crystals inside the inner ear move into the wrong position, causing spinning sensations when you change head positions.
- Vestibular Neuritis and Labyrinthitis: Inflammation or infection in the inner ear can create prolonged vertigo and imbalance.
- Cervicogenic Dizziness: Problems with the joints or muscles of the cervical spine (neck) can lead to dizziness, often following poor posture, whiplash, or heading the ball awkwardly.
Because dizziness has many possible causes, an accurate assessment is the key to choosing the right treatment.
How Physiotherapy Helps
The dedicated physiotherapists at OPTSC provide vestibular rehabilitation, a targeted form of physiotherapy designed to retrain the balance system. Depending on your symptoms, treatment may include:
- Vestibular rehabilitation exercises to help the brain adapt to balance changes and reduce dizziness.
- Canalith repositioning techniques (such as the Epley manoeuvre) to move displaced inner ear crystals back where they belong.
- Balance and gait training to restore stability and reduce the risk of falls, both on and off the field.
- Neck and posture treatments when dizziness is linked to cervical spine dysfunction or tension.
- Home programmes and education to maintain progress between sessions and prevent recurrence.
Each treatment plan is customized to help athletes and non-athletes regain steadiness and confidence in motion.
Why This Matters for Soccer Players
Soccer requires rapid turns, quick accelerations, and constant scanning of the field. These movements depend on a finely tuned sense of balance and spatial awareness. Even mild dizziness can affect reaction time, coordination, and decision-making.
For players recovering from a concussion, dizziness and vertigo are common lingering symptoms. Without proper rehabilitation, these issues can delay return-to-play timelines and increase the risk of further injury. Through vestibular therapy, players learn exercises that restore balance, retrain the inner ear, and safely rebuild confidence in movement.
By addressing dizziness early, athletes can protect their performance and ensure a safer, faster return to training and competition.
When to Seek Medical Attention
Although most causes of dizziness are treatable with physiotherapy, in rare cases dizziness or vertigo may be a sign of a serious medical issue such as a stroke or heart attack. If you experience sudden dizziness with other symptoms such as chest pain, severe headache, weakness, or difficulty speaking, seek emergency care right away.
Once your doctor rules out serious conditions, they may recommend physiotherapy as part of your recovery. You can also book directly with our team for assessment and treatment.
Take the Next Step
Dizziness and vertigo can be disruptive, but they do not have to keep you on the sidelines. With the right assessment and targeted treatment, most people experience major improvements in balance, coordination, and confidence.
At Ottawa Physiotherapy and Sport Clinics, our experienced team is here to help you find your footing, whether that means moving comfortably through your day or confidently returning to the soccer pitch.
Do not let dizziness hold you back. Book an appointment today and take the first step toward steady ground.
