The dizzy athlete

Dizziness is a common complaint both in athletes and their nonathletic counterparts. The diagnosis and treatment of dizziness is not significantly different between the two groups. The first step in evaluation involves defining dizziness as either presyncope, vertigo, disequilibrium, or nonspecific dizziness. Once the symptoms are better defined, the evaluation should then proceed with a careful history, physical examination, and appropriate diagnostic tests as indicated. Treatment strategies can be targeted at the underlying cause with the goal of diminishing or resolving the symptoms as well as preventing their recurrence. This article focuses on the diagnosis of dizziness and subsequent treatment regimens with particular attention paid to presyncope and vertigo.