Expert care for Dizziness, Balance Disorders & Neurological Rehabilitation

We offer specialist assessment and rehabilitation for dizziness, vertigo, balance disorders and neurological conditions. Clinic appointments available at London Bridge and North London, with home visits across London and online consultations.

CONSULTATION ENQUIRY

About Us

Dizziness and balance problems are among the most disruptive things a person can experience — and among the most complex to assess and treat well. The same is true of the consequences of stroke and neurological illness: the shoulder that won't move, the spasticity that limits everything, the balance that never quite came back.

Dan Varley is the founder of Varley Physiotherapy and Clinical Lead Physiotherapist with advanced expertise in vestibular rehabilitation and neurological physiotherapy, a combination that spans dizziness and balance disorders, neurological rehabilitation, hemiplegic and neurological shoulder pain, and spasticity management. He is one of a small number of physiotherapists in the UK working clinically, academically and in research across these fields, bringing a rare depth and breadth of specialist knowledge.

His NHS role is at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, where he leads on dizziness and balance disorders and hemiplegic shoulder pain within the Community Stroke and Neurorehabilitation Service, and works as an advanced practitioner in spasticity management. He lectures at City St George's University of London, where he teaches neurosciences on the Advanced Clinical Assessment, Critical Thinking and Diagnostic Reasoning module. At London Metropolitan University he lectures on vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders, neurosciences and neurological rehabilitation. He is a research therapist on the TRICEPS trial, a national multicentre randomised controlled trial investigating the effect of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation on upper limb motor recovery following stroke.

Varley Physiotherapy offers appointments in clinic at London Bridge, through home visits across London, and online. We work closely with and receive referrals from GPs, ENT surgeons, neurologists and audiovestibular physicians.

Daniel Varley | BSc (Hons) MCSP MACPIN MACPIVR

Clinical Lead Physiotherapist - Vestibular and Neurological Rehabilitation

Areas of Expertise

We provide expert and advanced physiotherapy across four clinical areas — available at clinic in London Bridge, through home visits across London, and online. No GP referral is required.

Dizziness, Vertigo & Balance Disorders

Specialist assessment and rehabilitation for vestibular and balance disorders. We work collaboratively with GPs, ENT surgeons, neurologists and audiovestibular physicians. Patients can also self-refer.

Vestibular and balance disorders rarely come alone. Associated symptoms include tinnitus, headache, brain fog, nausea, anxiety, ear fullness, visual disturbance, oscillopsia, light sensitivity, sound sensitivity, screen sensitivity, motion sensitivity and visual vertigo.

Vestibular and balance disorders we assess and treat include:

  • BPPV

  • Vestibular neuritis and labyrinthitis

  • Vestibular migraine

  • Persistent Postural-Perceptual Dizziness (PPPD)

  • Ménière's disease

  • Bilateral vestibulopathy

  • Post-surgical vestibular rehabilitation — including following vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and labyrinthectomy

  • Concussion-related dizziness

  • Cervical dizziness

  • Orthostatic hypotension

  • Balance problems and falls in older adults

  • Multifactorial balance disorders

  • Dizziness and balance disorders associated with neurological conditions — including stroke, MS, Parkinson's disease and traumatic brain injury

  • Persistent dizziness after normal investigations

  • Specialist neurological physiotherapy for people living with neurological conditions.

    Neurological conditions can affect people physically, cognitively, emotionally and behaviourally. We know the impact it can have on patients and their loved ones.

    We provide comprehensive, holistic and evidence based assessments and rehabilitation programmes tailored towards your hopes and goals.

    Neurological conditions we assess and treat include:

    • Ataxia

    • Bell’s Palsy and facial weakness 

    • Brain Injury

    • Brain Tumours

    • Cerebral Palsy (adults)

    • Functional Neurological Symptoms

    • General mobility problems

    • Guillain-Barre Syndrome

    • Head Injury

    • Huntington’s Disease

    • Immobility following hospital admission

    • Long Covid

    • Motor Neurone Disease

    • Multiple Sclerosis

    • Muscular Dystrophy

    • Neuromuscular Conditions and Neuropathies

    • Parkinson's Disease

    • Spinal Cord Injury

    • Stroke

    • Transverse Myelitis​

  • Shoulder pain is very common after stroke and other neurological conditions. Research shows it can negatively affect engagement in rehabiltation, daily activities, sleep and can reduce quality of life.

    We are experts in the differential diagnosis and management of hemiplegic and neurological shoulder pain.

    We work with neurologists, stroke physicians and GPs to give you the best possible treatment.

    Our expertise include:

    • Recognising your shoulder pain

    • Advanced assessments and establishing the cause of your shoulder pain

    • Recommendation for any required imaging including Xray, Ultrasound and MRI

    • Recommendations for oral and topical pain relief

    • Recommendation for injection therapies to help pain and movement including steroid, hydrodilatation and bot

    • Physiotherapy treatment programmes including positioning, stretching, strengthening, orthoses and electrical stimulation

  • Spasticity is increased muscle stiffness and involuntary muscle activity caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord. It is a common consequence of stroke, MS, traumatic brain injury and other neurological conditions. When not adequately managed, spasticity can lead to permanent muscle and joint contractures, chronic pain, and significant difficulties with daily activities, mobility and personal care.

    Effective spasticity management requires specialist assessment to identify the contributing factors and a tailored treatment plan. We provide advanced practitioner level assessment and rehabilitation, working collaboratively with neurologists, neurorehabilitation consultants and GPs. Where appropriate we make recommendations on medical management including oral medications and botulinum toxin injections, working alongside prescribing clinicians to ensure coordinated care.

  • Independent specialist second opinion consultations for patients and clinicians including:

    • Dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders

    • Vestibular rehabilitation

    • Neurological assessment and rehabilitation

    • Hemiplegic and neurological shoulder pain

    • Spasticity management

    Available in clinic, via home visit and online. A written report can be provided following second opinion consultation.

    We welcomes enquiries from both patients seeking clarity on their diagnosis or management, and from clinicians seeking a specialist peer review of a complex case.

  • Dan brings a rare combination of specialist clinical expertise and academic experience to his teaching and CPD work. Within the NHS at Guy's and St Thomas', he leads on educational development within the Community Stroke and Neurorehabilitation Service, holds clinical lead roles in dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders and hemiplegic and neurological shoulder pain, and works as an advanced practitioner alongside neurologists and neurorehabilitation consultants in spasticity management.

    Dan has completed master's level training in Advanced Clinical Assessment, Critical Thinking and Diagnostic Reasoning, a qualification that underpins a uniquely rigorous approach to clinical assessment and reasoning.

    He is a Visiting Lecturer at City St George's University of London, where he teaches neurosciences on the Advanced Clinical Assessment, Critical Thinking and Diagnostic Reasoning module. At London Metropolitan University he lectures on vertigo, dizziness and balance disorders, vestibular rehabilitation, neurosciences and neurological rehabilitation.

    Dan is available for bespoke lectures, course development and CPD collaboration. Specialist CPD courses in Dizziness, Vertigo and Balance Disorders, Advanced Neurological Assessment, Diagnosis and Management of Hemiplegic Shoulder Pain are currently in development.

    Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

Professional Memberships

Health & Care Professional Council

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Vestibular Rehabilitation

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology