Is Head Massage Good For Vertigo?

April 18, 2021

vertigo, head massage, chiropractic atlas adjustment

Vertigo is a highly debilitating symptom that can affect various age groups. Fortunately, nowadays, patients can tap into various remedies for vertigo attacks. If you are actively looking for alternative ways to cope with your spinning symptoms, you might also be wondering if getting a head massage can help. Will it be enough to curb your attacks, or should you opt for a chiropractic atlas adjustment? Learn more about head massages and other vertigo relief options below. 

Introduction to Vertigo 

Most of the time, the key to finding an effective vertigo relief option lies in identifying what triggered the symptoms. In most cases, it either stems from an inner ear disorder or a central nervous system malfunction. Here are some examples of the commonly reported causes of vertigo attacks.  

  • Vestibular migraines 
  • Viral or bacterial inner ear infection 
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • A tumor (brain or spinal)
  • BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)
  • Diabetes
  • Abnormal blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow to your brain
  • Head and neck trauma

What to Do If You Have Suspected Vertigo?

As many doctors repeatedly emphasize, vertigo isn’t a separate disease or condition. As a result, it can affect individuals differently. Some might report motion sickness with trouble walking, while others also experience nystagmus (involuntary eye jerking). Here are other leading vertigo symptoms that you should look out for: 

  • Muscle coordination problem
  • Vomiting and nausea 
  • Profuse sweating
  • Visual disturbances
  • Trouble speaking or verbalizing your thoughts 
  • Temporary hearing loss
  • Decreased consciousness
  • Ringing sensation in the ears

The best practice is to reach out to your primary care doctor if you experience vertigo attacks. This way, you can narrow down the most likely cause. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your condition and the most practical remedy you should use. 

vertigo, head massage, chiropractic atlas adjustment

Remedies You Can Try for Vertigo Attacks

Handling your vertigo attacks comes in many ways, depending on what diagnosis you get from your physician. While drinking medication can sometimes help, many patients understandably prefer addressing their symptoms the natural way. If you want to try these for yourself, you should consider some of the best options below.

The Epley Maneuver

As we’ve mentioned above, identifying the reason behind your vertigo attacks is critical to the success of the remedy you seek. For example, if you have BPPV, you may find it helpful to try the Epley Maneuver. It’s a specially designed exercise that aims to address the dislodged calcium crystal problem in your inner ear. 

Try to focus at a straight horizontal line 

Folks who have frequent vertigo attacks find it incredibly difficult to travel. That’s because besides the inner ears providing false signals, the eyes can also incorrectly perceive movement. To avoid exacerbating your symptoms, you should avoid focusing on motionless objects like a book when you’re traveling. Instead, we recommend focusing on horizontal lines like the road. 

Manage your stress better

Did you know that about 5 percent of Americans who experience vertigo episodes report more severe symptoms because of stress? If you notice the same trend with your attacks, you should try to find more effective ways to cope with stress. For example, you can try yoga breathing, spending more time to workout and discovering a new hobby.

Get a relaxing neck massage

Vertigo can sometimes stem from an inflamed or injured neck. The sore muscles tend to press on the nerves, affecting the signal transmission to and from your brain. This can potentially cause your brain to perceive false information about your current orientation, making you experience vertigo attacks. Thankfully, you can counter this by simply massaging your neck. 

Try slow head rotations

This approach is also quite helpful if your vertigo problem arises from miscommunication in your central nervous system and vestibular system. Essentially, it allows you to correct signals sent to and from your brain. All you need to do is to rotate your head from left to right slowly. 

Get a gentle head massage

A head massage is an effective way to de-stress after a long day. It’s also one of the simplest ways to curb the severity of a vertigo attack. It comes in quite handy for vertigo patients because it releases muscle tension, reduces blood pressure, and restores the normal flow of fluids (blood and cerebrospinal fluid) to your brain. You may try massaging your head every time you experience an attack. Alternatively, you can try seeking a massage therapist for a professional scalp massage.  

Chiropractic Atlas Adjustment – Another Vertigo Relief Option

If you’re not too happy with the results you get from a head massage or the rest of the remedies we listed above, you can try chiropractic atlas adjustment. It’s a natural approach to stimulating your body’s healing ability and address the factors that may be triggering spinning sensations. 

It aims to help you recover quickly by correcting the faulty adjustment of your atlas and axis bones. It’s a promising approach, especially if you have a history of physical trauma on the neck or head. Here are some of the most remarkable benefits you can get when you receive upper cervical care:

  • Improve your brain’s communication with the rest of the body
  • Ensure fluids like blood, and cerebrospinal fluid drains properly from your head
  • Help solve problems with muscle coordination or balance perception

It would be best to consult an upper cervical doctor’s and have your upper cervical alignment assessed. This way, you can receive customized adjustments that can gradually restore your spinal health and minimize your episodes' recurrence. 

You can contact a doctor for a chiropractic atlas adjustment today for more information.

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