What’s the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo After a Concussion?

What’s the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo After a Concussion?

Feeling off balance after a concussion or car accident? You’re not alone. Many of our Kansas City patients describe symptoms like dizziness, lightheadedness, or the room spinning — but they’re not all the same thing.

Understanding the difference between dizziness and vertigo is a key step in choosing the right treatment and speeding up recovery.

Dizziness vs. Vertigo: What’s the Difference?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but medically, they describe different sensations:

✅ Dizziness

Dizziness is a general term that refers to a feeling of being:

• Lightheaded

• Unsteady

• Off balance

• Like you might faint or fall over

• “Floaty” or disconnected

Patients with dizziness often feel uneasy when walking, standing, or turning their head — but they usually don’t feel like the world is spinning.

✅ Vertigo

Vertigo is more specific. It’s the false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or rotating, even when you’re still. It may feel like:

• The room is moving around you

• You’re being pulled to one side

• You're spinning or tilting

• A merry-go-round sensation in your head

Vertigo often comes in waves, may be triggered by head movements, and can cause nausea, vomiting, and intense motion sensitivity.

What Causes Dizziness and Vertigo After a Concussion?

Both symptoms are common after a traumatic brain injury or whiplash, and they often overlap.

Dizziness may be caused by:

• Vestibular system dysfunction (inner ear and balance issues)

• Cervicogenic dizziness (neck-related imbalance)

• Visual-vestibular mismatch (eye and balance systems not coordinating)

• Low blood pressure or autonomic dysfunction (like POTS)

• Anxiety or hyperventilation

Vertigo is often caused by:

• BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) — triggered by head position

• Inner ear trauma or inflammation

• Concussion-related disruption of the brain’s balance centers

• Oculomotor dysfunction leading to sensory confusion

• Vestibular migraines triggered by light or motion

That’s why it’s so important to be properly evaluated — different causes require different treatments.

How We Diagnose the Difference in Kansas City

At our concussion clinic, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC performs a complete concussion and dizziness evaluation, which may include:

• Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS)

• Balance and gait analysis

• Head impulse and dynamic visual acuity tests

• Positional vertigo testing (Dix-Hallpike)

• Cervical spine and proprioception exams

• Visual and oculomotor tracking tests

We treat patients from Liberty, Blue Springs, Overland Park, and Raytown who’ve seen multiple providers but haven’t gotten answers — until they understand the source of their dizziness or vertigo.

What Treatment Looks Like

The treatment depends on the cause:

For dizziness:

• Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT)

• Neck mobility and stabilization exercises

• Visual retraining

• Postural support and breathing exercises

• Addressing autonomic nervous system dysfunction

For vertigo:

• Canalith repositioning maneuvers (like the Epley for BPPV)

• Vestibular desensitization and habituation training

• Targeted motion exposure protocols

• Oculomotor and balance system integration

Get Expert Dizziness and Vertigo Care in Kansas City

Whether you’re feeling lightheaded, off balance, or like the room is spinning, Dr. Lance Stevenson, DC can help. Our clinic specializes in post-concussion recovery for patients from car accidents and sports injuries across the Kansas City area.

We don’t just treat symptoms — we identify the root cause and help you feel stable and confident again.

Call 816-226-7476 today to schedule your evaluation with Kansas City’s trusted concussion chiropractor.

Special thanks to Complete Concussions for their training and educational resources. To learn more about comprehensive concussion treatment options, visit completeconcussions.com.

Disclaimer:

This blog is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or replace medical advice. If you have experienced a concussion or other injury, please consult a qualified healthcare provider. Always follow the advice and treatment plan given by your medical professional.

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