Vertigo

Vertigo is dizziness that feels as though your surroundings are spinning around you. You can feel dizzy, unbalanced (like you are tilting), spinning or swaying. Other symptoms you may experience include ringing in the ears, sweating, headaches, or migraines.

What are the common causes of vertigo?

Vertigo has many possible causes, which is why a thorough assessment is important before any treatment is considered.

From a chiropractic perspective, the most relevant cause is cervicogenic vertigo — vertigo that originates from dysfunction in the neck. This may be associated with:

Previous head or neck trauma (such as whiplash)
Restricted joint movement in the cervical spine
Disc problems or arthritis in the neck
Neck pain or stiffness

Other causes of vertigo — including inner ear conditions, blood pressure-related issues and illness — require assessment and management by the appropriate healthcare professional. If your chiropractor determines that your vertigo is not cervicogenic in nature, they will refer you accordingly.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

One of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic assessment for vertigo is BPPV. BPPV is caused by small calcium carbonate crystals becoming displaced within the inner ear, which disrupts the body’s sense of balance. It is often associated with trauma or the natural ageing process.

Common features of BPPV include:

Higher prevalence in females
Recurring brief episodes (lasting from a few seconds to a couple of minutes)
No associated hearing loss
May be followed by nausea or vomiting
Symptoms often triggered by specific head positions or movements

Is Vertigo Dangerous?

Usually, vertigo is not dangerous, but it is important to take it seriously. Those experiencing frequent falls, or who have symptoms while driving, should seek prompt assessment. Older patients and those with a high risk of vascular disease should take particular caution.

Vertigo is more prevalent in people over the age of 60. Dizziness and vertigo are associated with an increased risk of falls, which are a leading cause of accidental death in this age group. For this reason, early assessment and appropriate management of balance disorders is important.

If you are experiencing vertigo, we recommend speaking with your GP or a healthcare professional to determine the most appropriate course of assessment and care.

What Is Cervicogenic Vertigo?

Cervicogenic vertigo is vertigo that originates from dysfunction in the neck. It may be associated with a history of head or neck trauma, such as whiplash, disc problems or arthritis in the cervical spine.

Symptoms may come and go, lasting from minutes to hours, and are often brought on or worsened by certain head or neck movements.

Common presentations of cervicogenic vertigo include:

A sensation of tilting to one side
Feeling unbalanced or unsteady when walking
Postural changes that may be related to neck pain or stiffness
Headaches

Where cervicogenic vertigo is suspected, chiropractic assessment may be appropriate. Your chiropractor will conduct a thorough history and examination to confirm the presentation before recommending any care.

How can Chiropractic care help with vertigo?

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to help with vertigo. The team at Total Health Chiropractic go through your medical history and exams, making sure they are being thorough. During your first visit, your chiropractor will perform a range of tests, including balance, hearing, head, and eye movement tests. This is all completed to determine what treatment is best suited to your needs. Chiropractic techniques that can be used to help vertigo include –

Epley’s Manoeuvre
Spinal manipulation
Spinal mobilization
Rehabilitation training
Correcting posture

If we are unable to provide you with care, we will refer you to the right health care specialist.