Vertigo is the unsettling sensation that the whole world is whirling around you even though you’re not moving at all. It may also feel as if your body is spinning when it’s still. In the United States, about 40% will experience some form of balance disorder or dizziness during their lifetime. In addition to the false sensation of movement, nausea and vomiting, and hearing problems can also add to the picture.
The vestibular system is a key component of a person’s ability to navigate their surroundings. When the vestibular system is operating correctly, it goes completely unnoticed. The body is able to make the necessary corrections in order to maintain its posture and sense of balance. However, a damaged vestibular system can have devastating effects in the form of vertigo, nausea, vision changes, and more. In addition, this can have a dramatic impact on a person’s ability to get by every day. Things like driving a car, or picking up children after school, can become difficult or even impossible.
There are many underlying causes of vertigo, and vertigo in and of itself is not a diagnosis. Most cases of vertigo stem from issues within the inner ear. For example, BPPV (positional vertigo) occurs due to a migration of calcium crystals into the canals of the inner ear. As a result, they begin to disturb normal fluid movement and distort balance signals entering the brain. Meniere’s disease is due to an abnormal fluid buildup within the inner ear. It leads to intense vertigo episodes as well as tinnitus, fullness/pressure in the ear, and fluctuating hearing loss.
There is still a lot that remains to be fully understood when it comes to the mechanisms behind why vertigo develops, but there is a strong connection between a history of head or neck trauma and the eventual onset of vertigo. Research conducted in the field of upper cervical chiropractic care has demonstrated a reliable, consistent connection between a misalignment of the craniocervical junction, which is the junction between the head and neck. The vertebra that is positioned here, the atlas, is the most freely movable one of the entire spinal column, and as such, can be the most vulnerable to misaligning as a result of the injury.
Two studies we’d like to highlight here studied 139 and 300 patients respectively who were medically diagnosed with Meniere’s disease. All of the patients were found to have an atlas misalignment and over 90% had a misalignment of a similar characteristic that would impact the affected ear. After a thorough analysis, each of these people underwent a course of upper cervical chiropractic care designed to restore normal atlas alignment in hopes that their symptoms would be reduced or eliminated.
Within the chiropractic profession is a specialized niche that focuses its efforts on the vertebra that forms the connection between the head and neck. The upper part of the neck, referred to as the upper cervical spine, is a complex and important part of the body and has a critical role to play for those living with vertigo and its related symptoms.
Atlas alignment can result from an accident, injury, or simply by wear and tear that inevitably happens over time. As the atlas shifts, it begins to cause a series of compensations throughout your body as it tries to keep your head balanced and your eyes level. As a result, the vestibular system functions abnormally. Distortion of signals that reach the brain may happen, leading to ongoing bouts of vertigo.
Upper cervical chiropractic care uses state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, precise measuring, and adjustments that are specific to each patient’s needs. Correcting the position of the atlas in such a gentle, non-invasive way encourages the body’s natural healing process to occur more optimally and efficiently. Many vertigo sufferers have experienced remarkable results under upper cervical chiropractic care.
A consultation with a practitioner near you can help make the connection of whether an upper cervical issue is a contributing factor in the vertigo episodes you’re experiencing. If so, you may be a few gentle adjustments away from experiencing an improved quality of life!
References:
https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589942134§ion=Incidence_and_Prevalence
https://vestibular.org/living-vestibular-disorder/everyday-challenges
Burcon MT, Health outcomes following cervical specific protocol in 300 patients with Meniere's followed over six years. J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res 2016; Jun 2:13-23.
Burcon MT, Upper Cervical Specific Protocol and Results for 139 Patients with Medically Diagnosed Meniere's Disease. J Vert Sublux Res 2010; Nov 14:1-10.
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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.
