11 Ways Chiropractic Treats Vertigo Fast and Effectively

Although not dangerous in and of itself, vertigo can be extremely disruptive to everyday life. The sense of movement when you’re not moving or the spinning sensation that often accompanies vertigo can make it hard to do even simple tasks. Not to mention nausea and vomiting that may occur, as well. Luckily, there are things chiropractors can do to help make vertigo a thing of the past. Read on to discover 11 ways chiropractic treats vertigo fast and effectively.

Can a Chiropractor Help With Vertigo?

Although vertigo is not high on the list of reasons people visit a chiropractor, those that do visit a doctor of chiropractic report high instances of relief. Those suffering from dizziness or balance problems who visit chiropractors find more relief, when compared to other health professionals. This is according to a 2008 study of the findings of the National Health Interview Survey

According to the study, chiropractors can help with vertigo and fall prevention. And they generally do so at a higher rate than other health professionals. Here are 11 tactics they use.

1. Spinal Adjustments

Spinal adjustments can provide many benefits to the patient, including the treatment of vertigo. The spine houses the central nervous system, which allows the brain to communicate with the body. However, when there is a subluxation, or an abnormal positioning of the vertebrae of the spine, this communication can be hindered.

These subluxations can directly or indirectly contribute to dizziness and vertigo. Indirectly, such as in the case of vertigo caused by an ear infection, fixing the subluxation with non-invasive and safe spinal manipulation can promote healing and recovery. However, this is not the only way chiropractic can treat vertigo. It’s simply one of many tools available.

2. The Epley Maneuver

The Epley maneuver is best for those suffering from Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). This type of vertigo is caused by the buildup of calcium crystals in your inner ear, which can interfere with your sense of balance. The maneuver is best done with someone to help you, which is where the chiropractor comes in. He or she can show you how to properly do the maneuver, and then you can continue it at home. This method has been shown to be very effective in treating BPPV.

3. Fixes Nerve Interference

Nerve interference, especially in the upper neck, can cause symptoms of vertigo. Vertigo resulting from irritated nerves in the upper neck are called cervicogenic vertigo syndromes. This type of vertigo is generally caused by injury or trauma to the neck and poor posture. What the chiropractor does in this case is focus on returning the vertebrae of the neck to its proper position with manual manipulation techniques. When the vertebrae are back in alignment, the nerves will no longer be irritated and the vertigo symptoms will subside.

4. Boosts Your Health

Sometimes vertigo-like symptoms of dizziness and nausea can be caused by small health issues. Things like a lack of sleep, poor diet, little or no exercise, dehydration, and stress can make the body do strange things. This is why chiropractic care is often invaluable. Doctors of chiropractic are thorough and detailed because they want to make sure the body as a whole is healthy.

Spinal manipulation can boost your immune system, chiropractic massage can relieve stress and flush toxins, and nutrition tips can get you on a path to better health. Plus, it can all come together to help you sleep better and feel more energized every day.

5. Stretches and Exercises

Depending on the type of vertigo you have, your chiropractor will most likely give you simple stretches and exercises to do at home. Many people find that their vertigo goes away in as little as two weeks when they stick to the exercises given to them by their chiropractor.

6. Stress Relief

Most people know how bad stress is for the body, but did you know that stress may cause a type of vertigo associated with Meniere’s disease? You can actually get dizzy from stress! And for most of us, stress is nearly unavoidable. Or at least we think it is. Luckily, chiropractic treatment can help you manage and relieve stress.

One of the best ways to do this is with a chiropractic massage. But many people also feel less stressed after a spinal manipulation session. This is because we tend to hold stress in our backs, developing physical symptoms that make it hard to relax. This also often makes it hard to sleep, which is a major factor in the buildup of stress. One thing is definitely sure: less stress is always a good thing for your health.

7. Nutrition Tips

Many chiropractors are certified nutritionists— or at least have one on staff. This is because chiropractic care views the body as one unit. Changes in one part of the body can affect seemingly unrelated changes in another part. This is especially true for the food we eat.

Dietary changes may not be appropriate for every type of vertigo. However, nutrition can play a role in Meniere’s disease and vertigo caused by migraines. Plus, healthy eating can never hurt. It can only help!

8. Fixes Your Posture

One of the main things chiropractors look at during a diagnosis is posture. Poor posture is a big problem around the world because of the hunched posture we tend to assume at the computer or on our phone. And poor posture can cause nerve irritation in the spine, which may cause vertigo. Luckily, chiropractors know just what to do to get your posture back into shape with exercises, spinal manipulation, and stretches.

9. The Brandt-Daroff Habituation Exercise

This simple exercise is another staple for treating vertigo by chiropractors. In fact, you don’t necessarily need to do this under a doctor’s supervision. It’s simple and safe enough to do at home. However, it has been known to make people dizzy for up to 30 minutes after performing. It’s a case of things getting worse before getting better. But, for most people, the Brandt-Daroff Habituation Exercise is effective in treating vertigo. Here’s how it’s done.

  • Sit on a flat surface. A bed is preferable. Your feet should be flat on the floor.
  • Turn your head all the way to the right and then slowly lay down on your left side without moving your legs and keeping your head turned to the right. Hold for 30 seconds.
  • Sit up again and turn your head back to center. Hold for 30 seconds.
  • Repeat on the other side, turning your head to the left and lying down on your right side.
  • Repeat the steps above five times each session, two or three sessions a day until your vertigo goes away. This may take up to two weeks.

10. The Semont Maneuver

The Semont Maneuver is similar to the Epley maneuver. If you have no luck treating your BPPV with the Epley maneuver, your chiropractor may try the Semont maneuver next. It is a little bit harder to do on your own, as it involves the doctor of chiropractic moving you quickly from sitting to lying positions with your head at a certain angle. It’s designed to move the calcium crystals out of your inner ear to cure your vertigo.

11. Chiropractic Massage

We’ve mentioned chiropractic massage in passing a few times in this article. The fact is that it’s a powerful method that can not only help fix vertigo, but it can also help boost health and wellness in general.

This type of massage is often accompanied by spinal manipulation in order to get the muscles around the spine healthy and functioning properly. Oftentimes our back muscles are tensed and cramped without us even knowing it. Chiropractic massage allows those muscles to get back to normal. It also has the added benefits of relieving stress and helping to flush toxins for the body that have built up in the muscles.

Resources:
https://bjgp.org/content/69/678/e52
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2786230/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1556370710000118

About the Author

Dr. Brent Wells, D.C.

Dr. Brent Wells has been a trusted chiropractor since moving his family from Oregon to Alaska back in 1998 and founded Better Health Chiropractic & Physical Rehab – B.S. from Univ. of Nevada, Doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College, volunteer for Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Foundation, and member of the American Chiropractic Association. As a chiropractor his focus is on family, including his 3 children and wife of 20+ years, his clinics, and ongoing education.

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