Dizziness can range from mild light-headedness to intense spinning sensations that disrupt daily life. As a chiropractic clinic dedicated to holistic well-being, we recognise that vertigo and unsteadiness often stem from sources beyond the inner ear. In this article, we will explore two common causes—cervicogenic dizziness and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)—and explain how chiropractic care could restore balance, reduce symptoms, and help you reclaim confidence in your movements.
What Is dizziness?
“Dizziness” is not one uniform experience. Patients describe it as:
- A sense of motion when still (spinning or swaying)
- Light-headedness or feeling faint
- Unsteadiness or imbalance when standing or walking
Such symptoms may result from inner-ear disturbances, circulatory issues, medication side effects, or musculoskeletal dysfunction. Identifying the underlying cause is crucial for effective treatment. At Acomb Chiropractic clinic, we conduct a detailed history and physical examination, assessing joint mobility, muscle tension, and neurological function—aiming to pinpoint the source and tailor your care plan.
Cervicogenic dizziness explained
Cervicogenic dizziness usually originates in the upper cervical spine (neck). When joints, muscles, or ligaments around the upper cervical vertebrae become irritated—often due to poor posture, whiplash injury, or chronic tension—they send abnormal signals to the brain’s balance centre. This “mismatch” between neck-position feedback and inner‐ear signals can trigger:
- A sense of disequilibrium, especially with head turns
- Neck pain or stiffness accompanying dizziness
- Difficulty focusing vision during movement
Because symptoms overlap with other vestibular disorders, cervicogenic dizziness is frequently misdiagnosed. Chiropractic assessment includes gentle palpation of cervical joints, range-of-motion tests, and functional balance challenges. Accurate diagnosis allows us to target the neck as the root cause rather than simply masking symptoms.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV is one of the most common vestibular disorders, caused by tiny calcium crystals (otoliths) becoming dislodged within the inner ear’s semicircular canals. When these crystals shift as you change head positions, they provoke transient bouts of spinning vertigo, often lasting 10–30 seconds. Typical triggers include:
- Rolling over in bed
- Looking up or down quickly
- Bending forward
Although BPPV itself is not dangerous, sudden spins can lead to falls, anxiety, and avoidance of routine activities.
Not all dizziness issues are suitable for chiropractic care. Therefore, a thorough assessment is essential to ensure accurate diagnosis, effective management, and tailored recommendations for your specific concerns
Chiropractic approaches to managing dizziness
- Spinal manipulations: Gentle movement of cervical vertebrae aim to reduce restriction and tension, improving proprioceptive input, this in turn lessens the signal confusion between your neck and brain. When inner-ear function is optimal, these manipulations can support overall balance. link
- Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre: For BPPV, we guide you through a series of head and body movements designed to relocate dislodged otoliths back to their proper position. Patients can experience dramatic relief after one to three sessions.
- Soft-tissue therapy: Trigger-point work, vibration massage, and gentle stretching target tight neck muscles that can contribute to cervicogenic dizziness. Enhanced muscle tone and flexibility, support joint stability and proper inner-ear function. link
- Vestibular rehabilitation exercises: Customised balance drills, gaze stabilisation techniques, and proprioceptive challenges retrain your nervous system to tolerate normal movement and could prevent further episodes of dizziness.
At-home strategies to reduce dizziness
- Maintain good posture: Keep ears over shoulders and shoulders over hips when sitting or standing.
- Hydrate consistently: Dehydration can exacerbate light-headedness—aim for two to three litres of water daily.
- Perform neck stretches: Gentle cervical rotations and side-bends can help ease tension.
- Move slowly: Rise to sitting before standing, and avoid quick head turns.
- Sleep with proper support: Use a cervical pillow to maintain neutral alignment.
Combining in-office care with home strategies amplifies your progress and empowers you to manage symptoms independently.
At-home strategies to reduce dizziness
Dizziness can be caused by other factors and if your dizziness is accompanied by severe headache, chest pain, vision changes, or difficulty speaking, this could be a medical emergency, and you should seek immediate emergency medical attention.
Get in touch
At Acomb Chiropractic Clinic, we are committed to helping you if we can. If you suspect that your dizziness may be helped with chiropractic treatment, we encourage you to contact us for a personalised consultation. Our experienced chiropractic team will conduct a thorough assessment, explain our findings and what we think is possible in clear terms. If appropriate, we will develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your specific condition and goals, aiming to maximise your possible benefit.
Not all complaints are appropriate for chiropractic care. If we think we cannot help your complaint, or you require more investigations, we will do our best to support you in finding you another path forward.