Can a Concussion Cause Vertigo?
Yes. A concussion can cause vertigo and dizziness.
But there is an important distinction: not all dizziness after a concussion comes from the same problem.
Some people develop BPPV, an inner-ear problem caused by displaced crystals. Others experience problems with the vestibular system, vision, neck, or the way the brain processes information after a concussion. Some people have several of these issues at the same time.
This is why post-concussion dizziness can be so frustrating.
You may know that your dizziness started after your concussion, but you may not know what is actually causing it—or what you should do about it.
The good news is that dizziness and vertigo after concussion can be evaluated and treated. The first step is figuring out which systems are contributing to your symptoms.
What Does Vertigo Feel Like?
Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness that creates the sensation that you or your surroundings are moving, spinning, tilting, or shifting when they aren't actually moving.
You might feel:
Like the room is spinning
Like you're being pulled to one side
Like the bed is moving underneath you
Like you're falling or tipping
Like your head is suddenly being thrown off balance
Vertigo can also cause nausea, difficulty walking, imbalance, and increased sensitivity to movement.
But not everyone with post-concussion dizziness experiences spinning.
You may instead feel:
Lightheaded
Unsteady
"Floaty"
Off balance
Dizzy when exercising
Dizzy when turning your head
Overwhelmed in busy environments
Dizzy when looking at moving objects
These different patterns can provide important clues about what is contributing to your symptoms.
How Can a Concussion Cause Vertigo?
Your sense of balance doesn't come from one system.
Your brain constantly combines information from your:
Inner ears
Eyes
Neck
Muscles and joints
Brain and nervous system
Your brain uses all of this information to determine where your body is in space and how you are moving.
A concussion can disrupt the way these systems communicate and process information.
After a concussion, dizziness and vertigo may be related to problems within the vestibular system, visual system, cervical spine, or central nervous system. These problems can also occur together rather than separately. A 2026 review describes post-concussion vestibular dysfunction as a complex interaction between peripheral vestibular, central nervous system, and cervical factors.
That's why there isn't one treatment that works for every person with post-concussion dizziness.
The treatment needs to match the problem.
Can a Concussion Cause BPPV?
Yes.
One of the most important causes of vertigo to consider after a concussion is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV.
BPPV occurs when tiny calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear become displaced and move into one of the semicircular canals.
When you move your head, the displaced crystals move within the canal and send an abnormal signal to your brain about your head position.
That can create a sudden spinning sensation.
Head trauma can trigger BPPV, which is why it is important to consider when someone develops positional vertigo after a concussion.
What Does BPPV After a Concussion Feel Like?
BPPV usually has a very recognizable pattern.
You may notice that the room suddenly spins when you:
Roll over in bed
Lie down
Sit up
Look up
Look down
Bend over
Turn your head
The spinning is usually brief and triggered by a specific position.
For example:
"Every time I roll onto my right side in bed, the room spins for about 20 seconds."
That pattern is very different from someone who feels dizzy throughout the day, becomes dizzy during exercise, or feels overwhelmed in a grocery store.
If your main symptom is brief spinning when you lie down or roll over in bed, BPPV is worth evaluating.
Learn more:
Vertigo When Lying Down: BPPV Causes & Treatment
That article goes into more detail about BPPV, positional vertigo, diagnosis, and treatment.
What If My Dizziness Isn't BPPV?
BPPV is only one possible cause of dizziness after a concussion.
Other potential contributors include:
Vestibular dysfunction
The vestibular system may not be processing head movement and balance information normally.
Visual or vestibulo-ocular dysfunction
Your eyes and brain may have difficulty working together to stabilize your vision while your head is moving.
You may notice problems with reading, scrolling, tracking objects, or moving through visually busy environments.
Neck-related dizziness
The neck provides important information about head position and movement. Changes in cervical mobility, muscle function, or sensory input can contribute to dizziness.
Autonomic dysfunction
Changes in autonomic regulation can contribute to light headedness, exercise intolerance, heart-rate changes, and feeling worse when upright.
Vestibular migraine
Some people experience dizziness or vertigo as part of a migraine pattern, sometimes without a typical headache.
Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness
Some people develop persistent dizziness and motion sensitivity that isn't explained by BPPV alone.
And importantly, you can have more than one of these problems at the same time.
Why Can Post-Concussion Dizziness Be So Difficult to Figure Out?
Imagine someone has a concussion and develops:
Spinning when rolling over in bed
Headaches
Sensitivity to busy environments
Dizziness during exercise
Difficulty focusing visually
The spinning when rolling over may be BPPV.
But BPPV wouldn't necessarily explain all of the other symptoms.
Treating the BPPV may eliminate the positional spinning while other concussion-related problems continue to cause symptoms.
This is one reason a comprehensive evaluation can be so valuable.
Recent clinical reviews recommend a profile-guided approach that looks beyond a single diagnosis and considers vestibular, ocular, cervical, and other contributors to post-concussion dizziness.
The goal isn't simply to identify whether you're dizzy. It's to determine why you're dizzy.
How Is Dizziness After a Concussion Evaluated?
A good evaluation should go beyond asking, "Are you dizzy?"
Depending on your symptoms, a vestibular physical therapist may evaluate:
Positional vertigo and BPPV
Eye movements
Vestibulo-ocular function
Head movement tolerance
Balance
Walking
Visual motion sensitivity
Cervical spine function
Exercise tolerance
Symptoms with changes in position
The purpose is to determine which systems are contributing to your symptoms and which ones need to be addressed.
Vestibular and oculomotor screening can help identify specific impairments and guide targeted rehabilitation after concussion.
How Is Vertigo After a Concussion Treated?
Treatment depends on the underlying cause.
If you have BPPV:
A canalith repositioning maneuver can be used to move the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canal.
If you have vestibular dysfunction:
Specific vestibular exercises can help your brain adapt to movement and improve how it processes balance information.
If visual or vestibulo-ocular dysfunction is contributing:
Treatment may include targeted exercises addressing eye-head coordination and visual motion tolerance.
If your neck is contributing:
Cervical mobility, manual therapy, strengthening, and other appropriate treatment may be incorporated.
If autonomic dysfunction is contributing:
Your rehabilitation may need to include strategies designed to improve exercise tolerance and autonomic regulation.
If several systems are involved:
Treatment may need to address multiple contributors rather than focusing on just one symptom.
Research supports vestibular rehabilitation as a useful treatment option for people with persistent dizziness and vestibular symptoms after concussion, although treatment should be individualized to the specific impairments identified.
Does Vestibular Physical Therapy Really Help After a Concussion?
Vestibular rehabilitation is not simply a collection of balance exercises.
Depending on what is contributing to your symptoms, treatment may address:
Balance
Eye-head coordination
Motion sensitivity
Visual dependence
Head movement tolerance
Walking
Sensory integration
Vestibular adaptation
Exercise tolerance
The important part is matching the treatment to the problem.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that vestibular rehabilitation can improve perceived dizziness in people with mild traumatic brain injury/concussion, although the studies varied considerably in their methods and treatment approaches.
The right exercise can be incredibly helpful—but it needs to be the right exercise for the problem you're trying to treat.
What If My Vertigo Hasn't Gone Away?
Persistent dizziness doesn't necessarily mean that you're permanently damaged or that nothing can be done.
It may mean that one or more contributors to your symptoms haven't been identified or addressed yet.
For example, someone may have treated BPPV but still have visual motion sensitivity, neck dysfunction, autonomic dysfunction, or another vestibular problem.
If your symptoms are continuing, the next step isn't necessarily more rest.
It's figuring out what is still driving the symptoms and addressing it.
When Should I Get Evaluated for Vertigo After a Concussion?
Consider getting evaluated if your dizziness or vertigo is:
Interfering with work or school
Keeping you from exercising
Affecting your ability to drive
Causing you to avoid normal activities
Making busy environments difficult
Interfering with sleep
Getting worse rather than better
Continuing longer than you expected
Making you unsure what is actually causing your symptoms
You don't have to wait until your symptoms become severe before getting help.
What Can I Do If I Have Dizziness After a Concussion?
One of the most useful things you can do is pay attention to the pattern of your symptoms.
Notice whether your dizziness occurs with:
Rolling over in bed
Standing up
Turning your head
Exercise
Reading or screens
Busy visual environments
Walking
Specific head positions
These patterns can provide valuable information about what may be contributing to your symptoms.
It's also important not to assume that every type of dizziness should be treated the same way.
If you have BPPV, you need BPPV treatment. If your vestibular system isn't processing movement normally, you may need vestibular rehabilitation. If your symptoms are related to several systems, those systems may all need to be addressed.
The goal is to identify the problem rather than simply learn how to work around it.
What If I Have Vertigo When Lying Down After a Concussion?
If your primary symptom is brief spinning when lying down, rolling over, or changing your head position, BPPV should be considered.
Learn more about this specific type of positional vertigo:
Related Concussion Recovery Articles
If you're dealing with dizziness or vertigo after a concussion, these articles may also help:
Vertigo After Concussion: Why It Happens and What Can Help
Learn about the different vestibular, visual, cervical, and autonomic factors that can contribute to dizziness after concussion.
Vertigo When Lying Down: BPPV Causes & Treatment
Learn how BPPV causes brief spinning when lying down, rolling over, or changing position.
Post-Concussion Autonomic Dysfunction: Symptoms, Causes & What Helps
Learn how autonomic dysfunction can contribute to dizziness, exercise intolerance, and other persistent symptoms.
Why Does Exercise Make My Concussion Symptoms Worse?
Learn why exercise can trigger symptoms after concussion and why the right exercise approach can be an important part of recovery.
Concussion Recovery Tips You Can Do at Home
Practical strategies you can use to support your recovery at home.
A More Structured Approach to Concussion Recovery
If vertigo or dizziness is one of several symptoms you're experiencing after a concussion, treating the vestibular system alone may not address everything that is contributing to your symptoms.
The Concussion Solution provides a structured approach to concussion recovery, with strategies addressing exercise, autonomic regulation, vestibular and visual systems, neck-related symptoms, sleep, and other factors that can contribute to persistent symptoms.
Looking for In-Person Concussion Care in Park City?
If you're in the Park City area and would prefer one-on-one care, Happy Brain Physical Therapy provides individualized concussion and vestibular physical therapy to help identify what is contributing to your symptoms and create a targeted treatment approach.
*In-person, virtual, and in-home options available.
