Your cervical spine — or, your neck — plays a key role in balance and coordination. So, when this area of your spine is inflamed, arthritic or injured, it can make you feel dizzy, lightheaded and unsteady.
Cervical vertigo is caused by inflammation, trauma, or degenerative changes in the cervical spine or neck musculature. Symptoms may include dizziness and neck pain with head movements. It may be accompanied by tense and tight neck muscles, stiffness of the neck as well as referred pain to the head, neck, or arms.
The cervical spine instability would stimulate more the sympathetic trunk that is structurally close. This can be caused vertigo symptoms (Ibrahim et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2017; Saylam et al., 2009).
People with cervical vertigo have both neck pain and dizziness. Other symptoms include vision issues, nausea and lack of coordination. Several different things can cause the condition, such as inflammation, joint issues and trauma.
It is known that the cervical spine plays a massive role in balance, and it is thought that cervicogenic dizziness is caused by a disturbance to it or the tissue around it.
Stretching and exercising the neck help it to maintain mobility and better support the head. A strong and flexible neck functions better and is less likely to become painful, which may also reduce the risk of associated dizziness.
In fact, massage therapy can not only alleviate the symptoms associated with vertigo, but it can also reduce the pain you may be experiencing due to headaches.
Now that you know what it means, let's focus on “Can massage help vertigo?” Frequent massages can help with vertigo because it can decrease tension in the neck and allow the arteries to “breath” better, allowing for more circulation.
The deep neck flexors include the longus colli and longus capitus muscles; these muscles play a vital role in cervical spine conditions and are frequently unnoticed as a source of locomotor system dysfunction. Dysfunction of the locomotor system may lead to the dizziness complaints, such as vertigo and disequilibrium.
Neck weakness leads to instability and is a contributing factor of conditions relating to neck related headaches, persistent whiplash symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, degenerative spine and surgery.
Treat Vertigo with Chiropractic
Vertigo can be treated with medications, but for those seeking natural treatment options, chiropractic may be the solution. Chiropractic manipulations that return the upper cervical spine to proper alignment may reposition the neck back to optimal position, putting a stop to dizziness.
The exercises should be carried out for at least five minutes, three times daily for as long as the Vertigo persists. This can be from one to three months.
Sit or lie down immediately when you feel dizzy. Lie still with your eyes closed in a darkened room if you're experiencing a severe episode of vertigo. Avoid driving a car or operating heavy machinery if you experience frequent dizziness without warning. Avoid using caffeine, alcohol, salt and tobacco.
Working around your client's vertigo
Aim to keep the head as vertical as possible throughout the workout. Also avoid exercises where your client's head is going through a change in elevation, which can aggravate symptoms as well. That means avoiding step-ups, squats, and lunges.
Exercises can help you improve and safeguard your balance. Level 1 exercises include the Romberg exercise, standing sway exercises, and marching in place. These are "beginner" exercises. Over time, you may try level 2 exercises, such as turning in place and doing head movements while standing.
Often, tight neck muscles are a symptom of a wider condition that could cause dizziness or headache. These conditions—called cervicogenic dizziness and cervicogenic headache, respectively—are rare, as only up to 2.5% of the population have them.
Many experts recommend that you try and sleep on your back, as the crystals within your ear canals are less likely to become disturbed and trigger a vertigo attack. If you happen to get up in the middle of the night, rise slowly as opposed to making any sudden movements with the head or the neck.
The central vestibular system includes nerves fibers and cells in the brain. One of the most common peripheral vestibular system disorders is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which occurs when small calcium particles get into an inner ear canal.
Central vertigo is due to a problem in the brain, usually in the brain stem or the back part of the brain (cerebellum). Central vertigo may be caused by: Blood vessel disease. Certain drugs, such as anticonvulsants, aspirin, and alcohol.