Vertigo is one of the most common conditions affecting people today. What is it? Is there a way to find natural relief? We are going to consider 4 different maneuvers related to canalith repositioning. Then we will take a closer look at a subspecialty of chiropractic that is providing real results for patients.
Don’t be confused by the movie – vertigo isn’t a fear of heights. It is a false sensation of movement. You may feel like the world is spinning around you. Or you may experience a swaying or rocking feeling as though you just got off a boat. The older you are, the more likely you are to experience vertigo.
Vertigo can be a sign of a serious heart condition, so if it is accompanied by other signs of a heart attack, seek medical attention immediately. However, most cases of vertigo are only dangerous if they result in a fall. For this reason, many patients try to ignore vertigo and just live with it. However, to protect yourself from potential falls, especially as you get older, it is important to find out what is causing vertigo.
One potential cause is when one of the particles in the ear canal that help with balance and spatial orientation become displaced. When this happens, several maneuvers have been developed to get the particle back into the correct canal. You should always consult with a physician before trying any of these maneuvers on your own.
The particles in the inner ear that help with balance are actually small crystals made up of calcium carbonate. Because these crystals are called canaliths, procedures to get them back in place are often called canalith repositioning. Here are 4 of the methods used:
This maneuver involves several positions that you can move your head to in order to get the crystal back into place. There are several reasons to have a medical professional help. First, you need to know which ear the problem is coming from. Otherwise you could inadvertently make things worse. Second, you may require help in moving your head and body into the correct positions safely, especially while experiencing vertigo.
This maneuver is very similar to the Epley Maneuver. However, some patients find this easier to do at home. For some reason, this form of canalith repositioning is suggested more frequently outside of the US, while in the US the Epley Maneuver is preferred.
This method requires skills that not everyone possesses, and it may be tough to do while experiencing vertigo. It is basically a half-somersault with a few changes of head position included. For a younger, nimble person, this may be an easy maneuver that can be performed at home any time a vertigo attack occurs.
This is a simplified exercise that can be done at home in bed. You may have to repeat the exercise several times per day for a couple of weeks to see benefits. The main advantage of this exercise is that it is fairly safe to do by yourself. The downside is that it does not seem to be quite as effective as other methods.
If you have never heard of upper cervical chiropractic, you may wonder just how different it can be from general chiropractic. Here are 3 quick differences:
Very precise measurements are taking using diagnostic imaging. This allows adjustments to be extremely exact and tailored to each patient’s personal needs.
There is no “popping” or “cracking” of the spine. Adjustments are low-force, meaning that they are gentle and safe for patients of all ages. So feel free to bring in great-grandma or an infant along with you for an examination and adjustment. It’s natural healthcare for the whole family.
We don’t adjust you every time you come in. An examination reveals if the alignment has held. If it has, we can see you less often. That saves you money. When you need an adjustment, it is provided in a precise and gentle manner.
But you may wonder how upper cervical chiropractic can help vertigo. It does so because vertigo is often the result of an atlas (C1) misalignment. A misalignment in this location can affect blood flow to the brain, brainstem function, the vestibular nerve, or even the Eustachian tube that helps drain fluid from the ear.
Once corrected, many patients find that vertigo is eased or even completely corrected. For example, in one study of 60 vertigo patients, 80% had no more vertigo following upper cervical adjustments. The other 20% all saw a significant reduction in severity.
It is interesting to note that 56 of the patients in the study remembered a head or neck injury that could have led to the misalignment. All 60 patients had a misalignment. Therefore, it makes sense to get checked out by an upper cervical chiropractor if you are experiencing vertigo, especially if you have a car accident, sports injury, assault, or another form of head or neck trauma in your past.
Contact an upper cervical practitioner near you today to schedule a no-obligation consultation. This can help you to determine if upper cervical chiropractic is the natural and cost-effective method that you have been searching for to provide help for vertigo and support overall health and well-being.
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The content and materials provided in this web site are for informational and educational purposes only and are not intended to supplement or comprise a medical diagnosis or other professional opinion, or to be used in lieu of a consultation with a physician or competent health care professional for medical diagnosis and/or treatment. All content and materials including research papers, case studies and testimonials summarizing patients' responses to care are intended for educational purposes only and do not imply a guarantee of benefit. Individual results may vary, depending upon several factors including age of the patient, severity of the condition, severity of the spinal injury, and duration of time the condition has been present.
