Dizziness from the neck is a very common problem seen at Northern Inland Chiropractic on a daily basis. The technical name for this is cervico-genic dizziness. This is caused by a disruption of normal proprioceptive input from the neck. This is often a gradual problem after a neck injury such as whiplash or from osteoarthritic changes in the neck. Now to simplify and explain this process step by step.
We all have 3 major sensory systems at play to ensure balance and the ability to know where our body’s joints are positioned when moving. These are:
- The visual system: Eyes
- The vestibular system (Inner ear) which works like a builders spirit level when moving.
- Proprioceptive receptors in spinal joints and muscles. These provide feedback to the brainstem regarding joint movement and joint position. These are found in high density in the neck and jaw.
The information from these 3 sensory systems is integrated at an area in the brainstem called the vestibular nucleus. Think of this area as a super computer for balance. When moving around in the absence of neck dysfunction the sensory input from the 3 sensory systems converges onto the vestibular nucleus all with the same information regarding balance and joint position. When there is a problem with neck function certain positions can induce pain and alter proprioceptive information regarding joint position, which travels to the vestibular nucleus. When this occurs the sensory information traveling up from the neck proprioceptors isn’t the same as that arriving from the inner ear and eyes. This sensory mish mash of information causes transient dizziness, as the information then has to be sent to higher brain areas to compute the information.
It is also important to note that the proprioceptive receptors in the neck control our ability to fix our gaze on objects when moving the head, and allow our eyes to track a moving target. This also explains why many people can notice some blurred vision at times as well as intermittent dizzy spells when experiencing neck pain and movement dysfunction.
Careful and specific chiropractic adjustments to the neck hold the key for restoring joint function and decreasing pain. In doing so this will also improve the proprioceptive feedback from the neck joints to the vestibular nucleus. This will ultimately improve the symptoms of dizziness and blurred vision.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms like this please phone the consultation for an appointment and get yourself checked out. We are here to help!!
References and Abstracts
1. Baloh R, Honrubia V. Clinical Neurophysiology of the Vestibular System 4th Edition. Oxford University Press 2010
2. Sloane, P. D., Coeytaux, R. R., Beck, R. S., & Dallara, J. (2001). Dizziness: state of the science. Annals of Internal Medicine, 134(9 Pt 2), 823–832
3. Reid, S. A., & Rivett, D. A. (2005). Manual therapy treatment of cervicogenic dizziness: a systematic review. Manual Therapy, 10(1), 4–13. doi:10.1016/j.math.2004.03.006
4. Tarnutzer, A. A., Berkowitz, A. L., Robinson, K. A., Hsieh, Y.-H., & Newman-Toker, D. E. (2011). Does my dizzy patient have a stroke? A systematic review of bedside diagnosis in acute vestibular syndrome. CMAJ, 183(9), E571–92. doi:10.1503/cmaj.100174
5. Kristjansson, E., & Treleaven, J. (2009). Sensorimotor function and dizziness in neck pain: implications for assessment and management. The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 39(5), 364–377. doi:10.2519/jospt.2009.2834
6. Schmid, G., Henningsen, P., Dieterich, M., Sattel, H., & Lahmann, C. (2011). Psychotherapy in dizziness: a systematic review. Journal of neurology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry, 82(6), 601–606. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2010.237388
