You Spin Me Right Round: Chiropractic care can treat Vertigo

Feeling dizzy is a strange, and sometimes scary, sensation. Vertigo – the spinning sensation – can affect people for a variety of reasons; cases vary from mild to severe, where people may end up bedridden. Whether you feel like you’re spinning around, or the room is whirling under your feet, if you have Vertigo, you will probably experience nausea or balance issues that prevent you from getting up and moving around.

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)

This is usually the main reason most people present with vertigo. BPPV appears when crystals in the inner ear become dislodged in the canal and excessively stimulate the nerves. It is usually experienced during sudden and intense movements like rolling over in bed, moving your head and standing up. Your brain is told there is a lot of movement even though your body has actually only moved minimally, creating a mismatch which leaves you feeling dizzy.

Viral Vertigo

Viruses associated with influenza, colds and other upper respiratory infections can cause inflammation to the inner ear and/or nerves. This swelling and irritation sometimes leads to dizziness, loss of balance and Vertigo. Conditions like labyrinthitis and vestibular neuronitis fall into this category of disorders.

Meniere’s Disease

This disorder leads to Vertigo, ringing in the ear (Tinnitus), hearing loss and a feeling of fullness in the ear. Caused by an accumulation of fluid in the inner ear, this condition creates an imbalance between your body’s balance and hearing centres.

Central causes of Vertigo

 Vertigo can be caused by serious medical issues such as tumours, MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and strokes, although they usually involve other neurological symptoms like muscle weakness, sensory changes, paralysis and confusion. If you notice any of these symptoms in tandem with dizziness/vertigo/balance issues, please seek immediate medical care.

Cervicogenic Vertigo

 Imbalance and dizziness can sometimes be attributed to disorders of the neck such as:

• Cervical trauma
• Degeneration
• Disc protrusions
• Postural issues
• Cervical arterial involvement

Patients often complain of neck stiffness, headaches and ear problems on top of dizzy spells and balance issues. The medical world doesn’t fully understand why neck issues sometimes cause dizziness, but one theory centres around abnormal signalling between upper neck proprioceptors (receptors that tell you where you are in space) and the vestibular system (inner ear balance mechanism), which creates inaccurate communication between spatial and body orientation.

Chiropractic care is a natural and effective form of therapy that can assist some people who experience dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders.

With their focus on realigning and strengthening the body, chiropractors can positively impact issues you may be experiencing with balance and dizziness. It is important to address these concerns to improve your quality of life and also reduce your risk of further injury through falls. This is particularly relevant for elderly patients who may experience symptoms of Vertigo through ageing. 

Cervical adjustments (where indicated)

Chiropractic adjustments work to restore function and alignment. This improves communication flow between the proprioceptors (the sensory receptors located on the nerve endings of the inner ear, muscles, skin, joints, tendons, and other tissues) and the vestibular balance system.

Postural and vestibular exercises

Maintaining good posture ensures that your body is properly aligned with your weight balanced over your spine, pelvis and legs. Exercises, stretches and the use of foam rollers or posture poles may also be prescribed by your chiropractor to help alleviate symptoms of vertigo. 

Feeling dizzy can be caused by a variety of medical and lifestyle factors. If you’re experiencing any symptoms of Vertigo, it is important to seek medical care. Your chiropractor will assess your situation, then advise and treat accordingly.

To book a consultation, please contact Connect Chiropractic on 03 9512 5882