Vertigo and Dizziness: Can Chiropractic Help Restore Your Balance?
Feeling off balance or dizzy, even while standing still, can be disorienting and disruptive to daily life. For many people, symptoms of vertigo or chronic dizziness can appear suddenly and make simple activities—like walking, driving, or even turning your head—feel unstable or unsafe. While vertigo is commonly associated with inner ear problems, it can also stem from spinal misalignments, especially in the upper neck. This is where chiropractic care may provide relief.
Chiropractic treatment offers a gentle, drug-free approach to addressing certain types of vertigo and dizziness, particularly when the cause lies in the musculoskeletal or neurological systems. If you or someone you know struggles with balance, chiropractic could be a key part of the solution.
Understanding Vertigo and Dizziness
Vertigo is not a diagnosis on its own but a symptom characterized by the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or tilting, even when you’re stationary. It often comes with nausea, blurred vision, imbalance, and headaches. Dizziness, while related, can include a broader range of sensations like lightheadedness, floating, or faintness.
There are several common causes of vertigo and dizziness:
Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Triggered by certain head positions, caused by loose calcium crystals in the inner ear canals.
Vestibular disorders: Infections or inflammation of the inner ear affecting balance.
Cervicogenic vertigo: Dizziness that originates from dysfunction in the neck, especially the cervical spine.
Neurological conditions or head trauma
Medication side effects or low blood pressure
While not all cases of vertigo are suitable for chiropractic care, many people experience improvement—especially when the dizziness is cervicogenic in origin or linked to past head or neck injuries.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
Chiropractors focus on the spine’s alignment and its connection to the nervous system. The upper cervical spine, located at the base of the skull, is closely connected with balance, coordination, and nerve signaling. Misalignments in this area may interfere with normal communication between the brain and body, contributing to feelings of dizziness or disequilibrium.
Here’s how chiropractic care can help:
1. Addressing Cervical Misalignments
Gentle adjustments to the cervical spine can relieve tension, restore mobility, and improve nerve function. If your dizziness is related to cervicogenic vertigo—a condition where neck dysfunction leads to symptoms—then correcting misalignment can significantly reduce symptoms.
2. Improving Vestibular Function
The nervous system and inner ear work together to control balance. Chiropractic adjustments may reduce nerve irritation and allow the brain to process sensory signals from the inner ear more accurately. This can help the body recalibrate and adapt more effectively.
3. Reducing Muscle Tension and Inflammation
Neck stiffness or tight muscles—often following injury or poor posture—can restrict blood flow and irritate surrounding nerves. Chiropractic care helps release tension and inflammation, which may alleviate dizziness associated with neck strain or muscle imbalances.
4. Supporting Whole-Body Balance
A properly aligned spine promotes balance not only physically but neurologically. Chiropractic care, combined with posture coaching and exercises, can help patients retrain their bodies to find equilibrium.
What the Research Says
Scientific studies have explored the role of chiropractic care in managing vertigo, particularly when it’s tied to cervical dysfunction.
A case study published in the Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research documented significant improvement in vertigo symptoms following upper cervical adjustments. Patients reported reduced frequency and intensity of dizziness over several weeks of care.
Another study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that chiropractic manipulation, particularly in the cervical spine, led to measurable improvements in dizziness severity and balance function among patients with cervicogenic vertigo.
Additionally, research published in Frontiers in Neurology suggests that neck proprioception (your body's sense of spatial awareness) is strongly involved in balance control—further reinforcing the cervical spine’s role in dizziness and the potential for chiropractic to help.
While chiropractic is not a cure-all, these studies support its potential in specific, well-identified cases of vertigo—especially when other medical causes have been ruled out.
Who Can Benefit?
Chiropractic care may be beneficial if you:
Experience dizziness after a car accident or head injury
Notice dizziness when turning your head or looking up
Have a history of neck pain or stiffness
Have been diagnosed with cervicogenic vertigo or suspect your symptoms are posture-related
Prefer a non-invasive, drug-free treatment option
Every patient is different. That’s why it’s important to begin with a full evaluation, including health history, neurological assessment, and postural screening. If chiropractic care is appropriate for your case, a personalized care plan will be developed.
A Natural Path Back to Balance
Dizziness and vertigo can seriously impact your quality of life, leaving you feeling unsure, anxious, or even fearful of daily activities. If you've been looking for a natural, supportive way to manage these symptoms, chiropractic care may offer hope and healing.
If you’re in the Bentonville/NWA area and ready to explore chiropractic options for vertigo or dizziness, schedule an appointment with Dr. Noah Banks today. With gentle, individualized care, we’ll help you take confident steps toward feeling steady again—naturally and safely.
