Although many people believe that chiropractic treatment is just for back problems and pain, the reality is that there are a wide range of reasons why people seek support from a chiropractor, including dizziness and vertigo.

Vertigo is a common symptom among chiropractic patients, particularly following a head or neck trauma. Many people are surprised to learn that vertigo is actually a symptom rather than a condition in its own right. It is characterized by a feeling like everything around you is spinning or moving, and this can cause you to feel dizzy and off-balance. If you try to stand and move around, you may physically stumble, fall over and be very disorientated.

What Causes Vertigo?

There are several different causes of vertigo, but in the vast majority of cases, it is caused by a problem with the inner ear. This could be an accumulation of fluid that changes the pressure in the ear (Meniere’s disease) or infection, the movement of particles inside the inner ear, or in some cases, it’s not known exactly why it occurs.

Many people who have been involved in a car accident suffer from vertigo. This is because a large percentage of cases of vertigo are triggered by a change in the position of your head, and one of the most common injuries sustained in a car accident is whiplash. Whiplash happens when the sudden force applied to the body causes your head to whip back and forth rapidly. When this happens, the muscles and connective tissues in the neck and upper shoulders are hyperextended, causing lots of tiny areas of damage that result in the pain, inflammation, and stiffness that are among the most common symptoms of whiplash.

What Are The Symptoms Of Vertigo?

There are many different symptoms associated with vertigo. These include but aren’t limited to sensations of:

  • Spinning
  • Tilting
  • Swaying
  • Feeling off balance
  • Being pulled in one direction
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Abnormal or jerking eye movements
  • Headache
  • Sweating
  • Ringing in the ears

The symptoms of vertigo can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and may happen regularly or infrequently.

How Can A Chiropractor Help With Dizziness/Vertigo?

Chiropractic treatment focuses on correcting the alignment of the musculoskeletal system – the bones, muscles, and connective tissues that give our bodies shape, strength, and movement. This is valuable for treating vertigo and dizziness that may be caused by issues with the alignment of the neck. Your chiropractor will use different techniques in order to eliminate any areas of pressure (called subluxations) in the cervical spine and upper back which could be causing pain and inflammation. By realigning the joints and vertebrae here, the central nervous system (of which the spinal cord is a key part) can also function more effectively, supporting your overall health and wellness.

If your chiropractor believes that your vertigo is caused by the movement of crystals inside your inner-ear, they can use a very specific treatment, called the Epley maneuver, which maneuvers your head into different positions in order to reposition the crystals and ease the symptoms that you have been experiencing.

Regular chiropractic treatments can also support your long-term health and wellbeing, which could even help prevent further instances of vertigo in the future.

For more information about how chiropractic care help with dizziness and vertigo, please contact our experienced chiropractic team at Hometown Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa at (563) 205-6670 today.