Our Services - Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment
Cervicogenic Dizziness
How can our Physiotherapists help?
Cervicogenic dizziness is unsteadiness or lightheadedness that comes from a problem in your neck (cervical spine), often worsening with head movement. It is not an inner ear issue.
Our physiotherapists provide the definitive cervicogenic dizziness treatment by:
Accurately Diagnosing the neck as the source of your symptoms.
Using manual therapy to restore joint mobility and reduce muscle tension.
Prescribing targeted exercises to strengthen your neck stabilizers and improve posture.
We treat the root cause in your neck, effectively clearing the confused signals that cause dizziness and restoring your stability.
Symptoms, Treatments and Approach
What Causes Cervicogenic Dizziness?
This condition often arises when inflammation, stiffness, or injury in the neck region disrupts the normal flow of sensory information from the cervical joints and muscles to the brain. This confused signaling between the neck and the balance centers of the brain (vestibular system) results in the sensation of dizziness.
Individuals often require cervicogenic dizziness treatment due to:
Neck Injuries: Acute conditions like whiplash from a motor vehicle accident.
Cervical Spine Conditions: Chronic degenerative issues like cervical spondylosis or a herniated disc.
Poor Posture: Prolonged strain from sitting at desks or looking down (e.g., "text neck").
Age-Related Changes: Older adults may be more susceptible due to natural wear and tear.
How Does a Physio Diagnose Cervicogenic Dizziness?
Diagnosing this condition requires an experienced physiotherapist who can carefully rule out other causes of dizziness (like BPPV or central nervous system issues). Our professional team employs specific tests to assess the relationship between neck movement and your symptoms:
Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Test: tracking a moving target while their neck is rotated
Head Neck Differentiation Test: isolating neck movements while the head remains fixed
A thorough neurological examination conducted by our professional physiotherapists helps rule out other causes of dizziness, including central problems (brain) or inner ear problems.
The Best Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment: Physio Approach
Physical therapy is considered the gold standard and primary cervicogenic dizziness treatment. The goal of cervicogenic dizziness physio is to restore normal neck mechanics, reduce pain, and retrain the brain's reliance on the corrected neck signals.
A typical physio treatment plan may include:
Manual Therapy: Hands-on techniques used by the physiotherapist to gently mobilize stiff neck joints, reduce muscle tension, and enhance overall cervical mobility.
Targeted Therapeutic Exercises: Specific exercises designed to strengthen the deep neck flexors (muscles essential for stability) and improve neuromuscular control and joint position sense.
Postural Education: Learning strategies to correct poor sitting and standing postures to prevent future strain and symptom recurrence.
Balance and Gaze Stabilization Exercises: In some cases, exercises are used to help the brain compensate for the confusing sensory input, improving overall stability.
Pain Management: Techniques like dry needling, heat application, or TENs may be used to reduce acute muscle pain accompanying the dizziness.
If you experience dizziness that feels connected to your neck movement or pain, consult a healthcare professional to explore a tailored cervicogenic dizziness physio treatment plan.