Upper Cervical Misalignment and Vertigo: The Connection Explained

April 17, 2022

chiropractor for vertigo

CGD (cervicogenic dizziness) remains a highly controversial cause of vertigo attacks. However, many healthcare professionals still consider it when diagnosing patients with symptoms that don’t indicate other vertigo-causing conditions. Because of this, many patients think a chiropractor for vertigo is the best professional to help them. If you’re unsure how upper cervical care can help you relieve your vertigo attacks, we suggest reading through our discussion below.

 

Upper Cervical Misalignments and Vertigo

Vertigo episode is a common indication of vestibular dysfunction. It gives you that false sensation of movement that can potentially increase your risk of accidents and injuries. Depending on the cause or trigger of your vertigo attacks, you either feel like you or your surroundings are spinning at an unprecedented speed. 

So far, studies attribute the occurrence of vertigo to vestibular illnesses like BPPV, Meniere’s, and inner ear infections. However, there are cases when the spinning sensations stem from an imbalance in the cervical spine. Doctors sometimes refer to this as cervicogenic dizziness. This symptom mostly comes hand in hand with neck pain, possibly indicating neck bone misalignments. 

A 2020 study explains that upper cervical dysfunction impacts various tissues and organs needed for proprioception. On top of that, upper cervical bone misalignments can impede the transmission of signals between the inner ear organs and the brain and blood. The bone misalignments can significantly affect blood flow in and out of the brain when left unattended, leaving your nervous system with nutrient and oxygen deficits. 

Unfortunately, this chain of reactions leads to various vertigo-causing problems. It can also increase your risks for other illnesses that can worsen your prognosis.

 

Common Causes of Upper Cervical Misalignments

The uppermost neckbones have a unique design, allowing you to have a full range of motion in your neck and head. Unfortunately, this feature also increases their risks for subluxation or bone shifting. According to case studies, the slightest pressure on the neck can compromise the alignment of your cervical spine. If you go and ask a chiropractor for vertigo, these are some of the causes of upper cervical misalignments that they would tell you. These may eventually bring about vertigo and other conditions.

Whiplash or car accident injuries

Car or motorcycle accidents often cause the neck to overextend or flex at an abnormal pace. Because of this, the uppermost neck bones slip out of place or fuse together, leading to a compromised upper neck structure and a significant postural imbalance.  

Poor body posture  

Tech neck, lordosis, swayback, and slouching can contribute to cervical bone misalignments. That’s because the average human head weighs up to 12 pounds. If you tilt your head the wrong way for an extended period, your uppermost neck bones suffer the impact and become at risk of subluxation. 

Head and neck injuries due to sporting events

Contact sports like football or basketball can sometimes cause concussions. Unfortunately, some concussions also come with cervical subluxation because the intense force on the head or neck displaces the atlas bone. 

chiropractor for vertigo

 

 

 

 

 

Excessive stress and anxiety

Stress can cause neck muscle stiffness. This forces the muscle fibers to tug on your neck bones, such as the C1 and C2 vertebrae. Additionally, stress can lead to chemical imbalances that impact the overall spine structure. 

Slips and falls

Slips, falls, and other injuries are common causes of neck bone misalignments in younger people. Unfortunately, most patients who develop cervical misalignments at a young age don’t show apparent symptoms until they reach adulthood. This leads to problems like recurring vertigo attacks. 

Childbirth-related injuries

New moms and newborns sometimes develop cervical subluxation during childbirth. In mothers, the cervical spine misalignments mostly happen because of the intense body changes they need to undergo during and after delivery. On the one hand, some newborn babies develop cervical bone misalignments because of their journey through the birth canal of their mothers.

 

Work with a Chiropractor for Vertigo Today

Now that you know a bit about the connection between upper cervical misalignments and vertigo attacks, you might want to start working with a chiropractor for vertigo. After all, studies show that upper cervical chiropractic can help address postural imbalances in the neck. It is also helpful in alleviating vertigo attacks for conditions that don’t require emergency attention, such as BPPV, inner ear infection, and Meniere’s disease.  

Suppose you have a history of injury to your head or neck or follow a poor posture because of your long work shifts or a pre-existing health problem. In that case, we strongly recommend consulting a chiropractor for vertigo

During your initial consultation, a neck chiropractor will help you gauge the severity of your neck bone misalignments. So, you should expect to undergo a few diagnostic tests like 3D X-ray scans of your upper neck bones and leg length test. You will also need to share your medical history to help your upper cervical chiropractor correlate your vertigo attacks with other possible health concerns. 

After your neck chiropractor has everything needed, you can begin receiving the adjustments, which many patients describe as gentle and precise.  

Thousands of patients have seen results after receiving upper cervical chiropractic adjustments. You can check out case studies to learn more about upper cervical chiropractic. Alternatively, you can head straight to an upper cervical practice and learn more about this approach firsthand. 

Book your appointment with the nearest upper cervical doctor today to begin your journey towards a life free of cervicogenic dizziness and vertigo.

 

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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.

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