Conditions we treat
Dizziness linked to the neck, a careful diagnosis of exclusion
Dizziness has many possible causes, and cervicogenic dizziness is only diagnosed once other, more common causes have been ruled out.
Cervicogenic dizziness is a form of dizziness thought to arise from disrupted signals between the neck and the brain’s balance system, typically associated with neck pain and stiffness. It’s a genuine but relatively uncommon cause of dizziness, and importantly, it’s a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning other, more common causes need to be ruled out first.
Dizziness can stem from inner ear conditions, blood pressure changes, neurological issues and several other causes entirely unrelated to the neck. Because of this, we take a cautious, thorough approach and will refer you for medical or vestibular assessment before attributing dizziness to the neck.
When neck-related dizziness is a genuine contributor, usually alongside clear neck pain or a history of neck injury, treating the neck can help alongside appropriate management of any other identified causes.
Common signs & symptoms
- A sense of unsteadiness or imbalance, rather than a spinning sensation
- Dizziness that occurs alongside neck pain or stiffness
- Symptoms triggered or worsened by certain neck movements or positions
- Neck stiffness or reduced range of motion accompanying the dizziness
- A history of significant neck injury preceding the dizziness
- Mild unsteadiness with walking, rather than severe vertigo
- Symptoms that ease with rest and worsen with prolonged neck postures
What causes cervicogenic dizziness?
Cervical joint dysfunction — altered signals from irritated neck joints are thought to disrupt balance processing
Previous neck injury — earlier trauma can be associated with the later development of cervicogenic dizziness
Muscle tension — tightness in the deep neck muscles may contribute to altered positional sense
Chronic neck pain — long-standing neck dysfunction is a recognised association with this type of dizziness
How we help at IA Chiropractic
Given the range of possible causes of dizziness, our first priority is careful screening, we ask detailed questions about the nature and triggers of your dizziness and examine for signs pointing to inner ear, neurological, or cardiovascular causes that need referral.
Where neck-related factors appear to be genuinely contributing, treatment focuses on gentle Chiropractic adjustments and soft tissue therapy for the neck, alongside exercises that support balance and neck positional awareness.
We work collaboratively with GPs and other specialists on dizziness cases, since accurate diagnosis often benefits from more than one perspective, and we’ll never delay an appropriate referral in favour of ongoing Chiropractic treatment.