Romberg’s Test for Imbalance and Vertigo: How it Works

balance, peripheral vertigo

Are you struggling with balance problems but can’t put a finger on why they’re happening? Have you been spending long hours looking into helpful diagnostic tests like the Romberg’s to diagnose your condition and gauge if you might need professional assistance? 

Quite a number of people with central and peripheral vertigo share a similar experience with you and that’s mostly because not many people know about the different diagnostic procedures for vertigo. Let’s help you get acquainted with Romberg’s so you can begin planning how to move forward and what you should do to cope.

 

Checking Balance and Proprioception Problems

Keeping one’s balance and sense of proprioception (detecting motion and assessing your body’s current orientation) is crucial to avoiding accidents. Imagine going out on a rainy or snowy day and having poor body coordination, and experiencing sudden bouts of vertigo episodes. Inevitably, you will get caught in an accident that could hurt your hips, back, or worse, your head!This is why it’s critical to get an assessment from a healthcare professional if you experience common central or peripheral vertigo symptoms like spinning sensations that won’t stop, vision problems that impair your perception of your surroundings, and nausea and anxiety attacks.  One of the usual procedures doctors or therapists use to check for balance, and proprioception is Romberg’s Test. It’s a quick physical test that involves the following: 

  • Removing your shoes and standing with your feet apart 
  • Holding your arms to the side or crossing them in front of the body 
  • Keeping your eyes open and standing still for about 30 seconds while your doctor or therapist assesses your movements and sense of balance 
  • Closing your eyes and continuing to stand still for another 30 seconds while your doctor conducts the necessary assessment

Swaying or falling during the test denotes a positive diagnosis, which may suggest that you either have a vestibular or neurological problem. On the one hand, if you have a negative diagnosis, your spinning sensations may not be related to the inner ear or nerve issues. While the test itself doesn’t seem much, studies emphasize how well it helps doctors and therapists check for irregularities that prevent your brain from processing information needed so you can move around without falling, tripping, or slipping. 

Confusing Peripheral Vertigo Episodes: How to Cope

Dealing with constant bouts of vertigo episodes is tantamount to keeping yourself safe. After all, it can be pretty dangerous to have spinning sensations at work, at a grocery shop, at home, or even inside a moving vehicle during a long commute. Nowadays, you can use several brilliant ways to cope better during an attack. These include the following: 

Modifying your diet

Many patients with recurring vertigo episodes swear by diet modifications as an effective source of relief. This technique works by keeping away inflammation and other unnecessary body responses that might impact your organs of balance. 

Avoiding your vertigo triggers

Because no two cases of vertigo attack is the same, you might find it helpful to keep track of your triggers. Find out what sets off our spinning sensations in motion. These could include dehydration, stress, anxiety, sudden head movements, frequent travel, and even medication intake. Once you determine what might be causing all your pain and dizzying spells, you should find ways to work around them or switch to alternative options. 

Addressing injuries of the past 

Are you a victim of physical abuse? Have you injured your neck or head several years ago? Do you have poor posture? If you answer yes to at least one of these questions, you should consider seeking help from an upper cervical doctor. Neck injuries, no matter how long ago they happened and affected you, can be a source of “invisible” postural changes. The force from such events can damage the connective tissues that hold your atlas and axis – uppermost neck bones – in place, compromising your cervical spine and the rest of your vertebral bones. This leads to altered fluid flow to and from the brain, eventually leading to problematic symptoms like vertigo attacks. In the long run, uncorrected postural misalignments can even set off worse health conditions that will forever redefine your routine and impact your overall well-being. These health issues may include migraines, nerve compression, back pain, and even fibromyalgia.

Thankfully, you can potentially improve your symptoms with the help of an Upper Cervical Doctor. Chiropractors focused on the Upper Cervical technique to help ease the topmost neck bones to shift back in place. This relieves pressure on the spine and helps your body regain balance.

balance, peripheral vertigo

Get Help and See Results After Seeking Upper Cervical Care 

Find an Upper Cervical Chiropractic practice near you to get your neck evaluated. This way, you can determine if your spinning sensations and other accompanying symptoms might be a result of previously sustained neck and head injuries. Hope is definitely not lost, so if you’re feeling desperate and frustrated from the lack of results you get from your current vertigo remedy, we strongly suggest considering Upper Cervical Care. Use our comprehensive directory today to start getting in touch with a Vertigo Chiropractic doctor near you!

Find An Upper Cervical Doctor in Your Areato schedule a consultation today.

Search

Featured Articles

Videos

Montel Williams
Montel Williams

TV show host Montel Williams describes how specific chiropractic care has helped his body.

NBC's The Doctors

The TV show "The Doctors" showcased Upper Cervical Care.

CBS News/Migraine Relief

CBS News highlighted the alleviation of Migraines and Headaches.

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.

©2015–2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.