Motion Sickness: A Natural Approach to Finding Relief
Motion sickness is more than just an upset stomach. It’s a complex reaction involving your inner ear, eyes, brain, and nervous system. When these systems receive conflicting signals about movement, your brain struggles to make sense of what’s happening, often triggering a cascade of symptoms including nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fatigue.
Understanding What Causes Motion Sickness
The root of motion sickness lies in sensory mismatch. Your brain receives input about movement and balance from several sources:
The inner ear (vestibular system) detects motion and spatial orientation.
The eyes provide visual cues about movement or stillness.
Proprioceptors in muscles and joints help your brain understand your body’s position.
When these inputs don’t align—such as reading in a moving car (your body feels motion, but your eyes focus on a still object)—your brain responds as if something’s wrong. This miscommunication is what triggers motion sickness in many individuals.
But here’s where it gets interesting: the spine, particularly the upper cervical region (your neck), plays a major role in relaying proprioceptive information to the brain. If the neck is out of alignment or not functioning properly, it can contribute to balance issues or intensify motion-related discomfort.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Chiropractic care focuses on maintaining the integrity of the nervous system through spinal alignment. When your spine—especially the cervical spine—is in proper alignment, the brain is better able to process sensory signals clearly and respond appropriately to movement.
Here’s how chiropractic may reduce the severity or frequency of motion sickness symptoms:
1. Improving Proprioceptive Feedback
Spinal misalignments can alter the body’s awareness of where it is in space. By correcting these misalignments, chiropractors can enhance proprioceptive signaling, helping the brain interpret sensory input more accurately.
2. Supporting the Vestibular System
The upper neck works closely with the inner ear and brainstem to coordinate balance. Chiropractic adjustments to the upper cervical spine may improve function in this region, potentially easing symptoms like dizziness and nausea.
3. Reducing Nervous System Irritation
When the nervous system is irritated due to misalignment or tension, it can overreact to normal stimuli—like minor motion during travel. Chiropractic adjustments help reduce this irritation, promoting a calmer, more stable sensory response.
What the Research Shows
Though more studies are needed to understand the full relationship between chiropractic care and motion sickness, existing research supports a strong connection between spinal health and balance.
A study in The Journal of Vestibular Research discusses how cervical proprioception and neck function play a significant role in balance disorders.
Another study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that spinal manipulation improved balance and head positioning in patients with cervicogenic dizziness—a condition with symptoms similar to motion sickness.
A 2020 review in Frontiers in Neurology reinforced the importance of cervical sensory input in the control of eye movements, head stability, and spatial orientation—all relevant to motion sickness.
This growing body of evidence suggests that chiropractic care may be beneficial for people whose motion sickness is aggravated by cervical or sensory dysfunction.
Lifestyle Tips to Support a Steadier Experience
In addition to chiropractic care, here are a few simple ways to manage or reduce motion sickness symptoms:
Choose the right seat: In cars, sit in the front seat. On boats, stay near the center. On planes, choose a seat over the wing.
Look at the horizon: Focusing on a stable point in the distance helps reduce sensory confusion.
Stay upright: Reclining can sometimes worsen the disconnect between your inner ear and visual perception.
Limit screen time: Avoid reading or using your phone while in motion.
Stay cool and hydrated: Dehydration and overheating can worsen nausea.
These strategies, combined with chiropractic care, can give your body the tools it needs to adapt more calmly to movement.
A Natural, Non-Invasive Option in Bentonville
Motion sickness can be frustrating, especially when it limits your ability to travel or participate in everyday activities. At Dr. Noah Banks’ chiropractic office in Bentonville, we take a whole-body approach to care. If your symptoms may be related to neck function or spinal misalignment, we offer gentle, personalized treatment designed to support balance, reduce discomfort, and restore confidence in motion.
If you’re tired of relying on medication or want to explore a natural way to feel steadier and more in control, schedule an appointment with Dr. Noah Banks today. Together, we’ll create a care plan that helps you move through life—whether on land, sea, or air—with comfort and ease.
