What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are moving when there is actually no movement occurring. People often describe it as:

• A spinning sensation
• Feeling like the room is tilting or swaying
• Loss of balance
• Feeling pulled in one direction
• Nausea or motion sickness
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating

While dizziness is a broad term, vertigo is a specific type of dizziness related to the body’s balance system.

What Causes Vertigo?

Your sense of balance relies on communication between your inner ear, eyes, brain, and nervous system. When these systems aren’t working together properly, vertigo can occur.

Some common causes include:

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

BPPV is one of the most common causes of vertigo. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals inside the inner ear become displaced and move into areas where they shouldn’t be. This can trigger sudden episodes of spinning sensations, particularly when changing head position.

Vestibular Disorders

Conditions such as vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis involve inflammation of the inner ear and can cause significant dizziness, balance problems, and vertigo.

Neck-Related Dizziness

The neck contains thousands of sensory receptors that constantly provide information to the brain about head position and movement. Following injuries such as whiplash, concussion, poor posture, or chronic neck tension, these signals can become distorted, potentially contributing to dizziness and balance disturbances.

Migraines

Some individuals experience vestibular migraines, where dizziness and vertigo occur with or without a headache.

Stress and Nervous System Dysregulation

Periods of prolonged stress can influence how the brain processes sensory information. When the nervous system is under strain, symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, and balance issues may become more noticeable.

The Connection Between the Neck and Balance

Many people are surprised to learn that the neck plays a significant role in balance and spatial awareness.

Specialized receptors within the muscles and joints of the upper cervical spine provide the brain with information about where the head is positioned in relation to the body. If these signals become altered due to injury, tension, restricted movement, or joint dysfunction, the brain may receive conflicting information from the neck, eyes, and inner ear.

This mismatch can contribute to symptoms such as:

• Dizziness
• Unsteadiness
• Poor balance
• Motion sensitivity
• Difficulty concentrating

This is sometimes referred to as cervicogenic dizziness.

How Chiropractic Care May Help

Chiropractic care focuses on improving movement, function, and communication within the nervous system.

For individuals whose dizziness is related to neck dysfunction, chiropractic care may help by:

• Improving joint mobility in the neck and upper back
• Reducing muscle tension
• Supporting healthy nervous system function
• Improving posture and movement patterns
• Enhancing proprioception (the body’s awareness of position and movement)

A thorough assessment is essential to determine whether neck dysfunction may be contributing to your symptoms and whether chiropractic care is appropriate for your situation.

When Should You Seek Professional Help?

While many causes of vertigo are manageable, dizziness should never be ignored.

Seek immediate medical attention if vertigo is accompanied by:

• Sudden severe headache
• Difficulty speaking
• Weakness or numbness
• Vision changes
• Chest pain
• Loss of consciousness

These symptoms may indicate a more serious medical condition requiring urgent care.

Finding Your Balance Again

Vertigo can be frustrating, unpredictable, and sometimes frightening. The good news is that many cases respond well to appropriate assessment and treatment.

Whether your symptoms are related to the inner ear, neck dysfunction, stress, or another underlying cause, identifying the source is the key to effective management.

If you’ve been experiencing dizziness, balance issues, or recurring vertigo, speaking with a healthcare professional can help you understand what’s driving your symptoms and create a plan to help you regain confidence in your movement and daily life.

Ready to Take the First Step?

If dizziness or vertigo is affecting your quality of life, our team can help assess whether your nervous system, posture, or neck function may be contributing to your symptoms. Contact our clinic today to schedule an evaluation and start moving toward better balance and wellbeing.