Vertigo, Dizziness and Chiropractic Treatment

Vertigo, a sensation of dizziness or spinning, is a prevalent symptom that can greatly impact daily life. It is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sweating, and can be caused by various factors, such as head and neck trauma.

Some Common Causes:

Vertigo is usually caused by a problem within the inner ear affecting the vestibular system that regulates balance by sensing movement.

  • BPPV or Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is the most common cause of vertigo and happens when tiny crystals of calcium carbonate become detached and fall into the wrong part of the canals within the inner ear.  Movement can cause these particles to stimulate motion sensors in the ear, leading to intense sensations of vertigo, which can be triggered by something as simple as turning over in bed or looking up at the ceiling. The symptoms of BPPV are a common cause of falling in older people.   Chiropractors conduct thorough examinations to diagnose the root cause of vertigo and determine the most appropriate treatment. Chiropractors utilise repositioning manoeuvres, such as the Epley Manoeuvre which can effectively alleviate BPPV symptoms in the majority of patients. Chiropractic care may not be suitable for all types of dizziness, but if it’s not the right solution, practitioners will refer patients back to their GP for further assessment and treatment.
  • Meniere’s Disease can be an extremely debilitating and distressing problem. Symptoms include tinnitus and a feeling of fullness in the affected ear, hearing loss that may come and go and episodes of vertigo that can last from half an hour to 24 hours or longer. The problem is associated with a build up of excess fluid in the inner ear. Chiropractic care may be beneficial for Meniere’s sufferers but it is important to seek help early – as with each recurrence of the symptoms, more damage is done to hearing and balance. There is no cure for Meniere’s, but your Chiropractor can help with vestibular rehabilitation, exercises that help the brain to adjust to the signals coming from the affected ear (or ears) in order to minimize the long- term effects of the condition.
  • Vestibular Migraine (VM), also called Migraine Associated Vertigo is a less common cause of dizziness and affects one in ten Migraine sufferers. Symptoms include vertigo episodes that can last anything from a few minutes to 72 hours. Chiropractic can help Vestibular Migraine sufferers without drugs or medication and benefits include decreased frequency and intensity of attacks, attacks of shorter duration and longer periods between attacks of Migraine.
  • Cervicogenic Dizziness is characterised by the presence of imbalance, unsteadiness, disorientation, neck pain, limited cervical range of motion (ROM), and may be accompanied by a headache. Movements of the head and neck may also aggravate symptoms. The symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness can last from several minutes to several hours. It is not a common diagnosis, and the patient may also feel generalized sensations of imbalance.  This imbalance may also be worsened with ranges of motion in the head and neck, or movement in the environment.

Mature man complaining o headache to the doctor while sitting at the table at doctor’s office

As healthcare providers, chiropractors frequently evaluate patients presenting with complaints of dizziness. Although often benign, dizziness can be caused by serious, emergent conditions, and this requires that healthcare providers pay close attention and look for red-flag signs and symptoms, including neurologic dysfunction and alterations in cognitive function.

The clinician must differentiate a central (serious) cause of dizziness/vertigo versus a peripheral (more likely benign) cause of dizziness/vertigo.