Vertigo & Dizziness

"Vertigo" and "dizziness" cover a wide range of sensations — spinning, unsteadiness, light-headedness, or a feeling of being off-balance. Not all dizziness has the same source, and part of our job is figuring out which category a patient's symptoms fall into before building a care plan.

Cervicogenic dizziness

One well-recognized cause is cervicogenic dizziness — dizziness that originates from dysfunction in the upper cervical spine, where joint receptors feed into the same neural pathways that help control balance and spatial orientation. It's often triggered or worsened by neck movement or sustained positions, and commonly follows whiplash, poor posture, or upper neck joint restriction.

What we assess

• Cervical joint mobility and upper neck function, a common driver of positional or movement-related dizziness
• Postural patterns and muscle tension that can perpetuate symptoms
• History and symptom pattern, to help differentiate a cervicogenic cause from other sources
• Red flags that warrant referral rather than in-clinic care

What we treat, and what we refer out

When assessment points to a cervical origin, care typically includes gentle joint mobilization, soft tissue therapy for the upper neck and suboccipital muscles, and postural correction — often producing meaningful improvement over a course of treatment.

Not all dizziness belongs in a chiropractic clinic. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) — brief, intense spinning triggered by specific head positions — is usually best managed with vestibular repositioning (such as the Epley maneuver), and we refer for this when indicated. Inner ear conditions, medication side effects, and cardiovascular causes also need the right specialist, and we'll point you there when your presentation calls for it.

When to seek urgent care

Sudden severe dizziness accompanied by slurred speech, facial drooping, double vision, difficulty walking, or one-sided weakness or numbness needs emergency evaluation immediately — these can be signs of a stroke or other serious neurological event, not a musculoskeletal issue.