Have you ever felt the world spinning around you, paired with an aching neck? You might be dealing with a condition called cervical vertigo, also known as cervicogenic dizziness. This condition stems from issues in the neck and can leave you feeling disoriented, unsteady, and sometimes accompanied by headaches and reduced neck mobility. Let’s dive into how neck problems can cause vertigo, the common causes, and how to manage it effectively.

What is Cervical Vertigo?

Cervical vertigo is caused by an injury or health condition affecting the neck. It often comes with neck pain and can affect your balance, range of motion, and overall coordination. This disorientation is believed to occur due to a communication breakdown between the sensors in your neck and your brain’s balance systems.

Understanding How Balance Works

Maintaining balance involves a coordinated effort between your eyes, muscles, joints, and inner ear—especially the vestibular system. When everything works together, standing and moving feel natural and effortless. However, when an issue arises in your neck, it can disrupt this harmony, leading to vertigo.

Proprioception, your body’s awareness of movement and position, plays a big role here. Sensors in the neck send signals to the brain about positioning, but injuries or conditions affecting the neck can disrupt these signals, leaving you feeling unsteady.

Common Causes of Cervical Vertigo

cervical vertigo

Neck problems leading to vertigo can stem from several sources, ranging from physical injuries to chronic conditions.

Whiplash

A sudden jolt to the neck—often from a car accident—can result in whiplash. This injury can trigger muscle spasms and disrupt your neck’s balance-sensing mechanisms.

Cervical Spondylosis

Commonly known as neck arthritis, this age-related condition involves the breakdown of discs and joints in the neck, sometimes causing nerve or blood vessel compression. This can lead to dizziness and vertigo.

Herniated Discs

When a spinal disc bulges out, it can press against the spinal cord or nearby nerves, interfering with signals that regulate balance.

Poor Posture

Years of slouching or bending your neck forward can compress the vertebrae and throw off your neck’s alignment, potentially contributing to vertigo.

Other Causes

Conditions like atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), prior neck surgeries, or rare conditions like Bow Hunter’s Syndrome can also disrupt blood flow or nerve function in the neck, leading to vertigo.

Diagnosing Cervical Vertigo

Diagnosing cervical vertigo can be challenging, as its symptoms overlap with other conditions like inner ear problems or even migraines. Medical professionals often use a diagnosis of exclusion, ruling out other potential causes like:

  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
  • Meniere’s disease
  • Stroke or brain tumours

Neck pain often serves as a clue that the dizziness originates from the neck, helping guide diagnosis.

Managing and Treating Cervical Vertigo

The good news is that cervical vertigo is often manageable and the symptoms go away after few seconds to a few minutes. Treatment focuses on reducing neck pain, restoring mobility, and addressing the root cause of the condition.

Physical Therapy

Targeted exercises can improve neck strength, posture, and mobility, which helps alleviate symptoms over time. Techniques like manual therapy—where a therapist manipulates your muscles and joints—are particularly effective.

Aerobic Exercise

Activities like walking, swimming, or cycling can reduce inflammation and improve overall neck function. Regular sessions of 15–30 minutes, a few times a week, can make a noticeable difference.

Mindfulness-Based Practices

Yoga, Pilates, and tai chi combine strength-building with mindfulness and breathing techniques, offering long-term benefits for both pain and balance.

Medication and Pain Relief

Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen can relieve pain, while drugs like meclizine may help manage dizziness.

Alternative Therapies

Massage and acupuncture are often helpful in relieving neck pain and restoring balance. However, if you’re considering chiropractic care, speak with your healthcare provider first to ensure it’s the right approach for you.

Can Neck Problems Cause Vertigo While Sleeping?

If you wake up feeling dizzy and your neck aches, it could be linked to your sleeping position. Poor posture during sleep, such as using an unsupportive pillow or sleeping on your stomach, can strain the neck and trigger cervical vertigo. Investing in proper neck support can help prevent this issue.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

As a Melbourne Chiropractor, I help patients manage cervical vertigo through tailored treatments that focus on relieving neck pain and restoring proper alignment. By identifying the underlying cause, I use gentle spinal adjustments, stretching techniques, and posture correction exercises to improve neck function and alleviate symptoms.

Take the First Step Towards Relief

If your world feels like it’s spinning and you suspect your neck might be the cause, don’t wait. Addressing cervical vertigo early can significantly improve your quality of life. I’m here to help you understand your condition and develop a personalised treatment plan that works for you. Reach out today to learn more!