Q: Can chiropractic help my dizziness?
A: People who suffer from vertigo, a condition in which they have a sensation of whirling, tilting and imbalance, can suffer from a wide range of symptoms. Those can range from a few moments of light-headedness to a full bout of nausea, vomiting and inability to stand or walk. In at least some cases, chiropractic treatment has been successful in either eliminating or easing the condition.
In one study of 60 patients afflicted with some degree of vertigo, researchers found that the problem stemmed from a misalignment in the upper cervical spine. Fifty-six of the 60, when asked, recalled a trauma, like an auto accident or a fall in their past. Subsequent tests found that all 60 actually had a misalignment in the spine. After one to six months of appropriate chiropractic treatment, 48 patients were symptom-free and the remaining 12 had reduced frequency or severity of episodes. A case report published in the Journal of the American Chiropractic Association in 2003 describes treatment of a 53-year-old woman whose severe vertigo was eliminated with adjustment to her C2 vertebra.
In cases like this, I find it important to work closely with a qualified physical therapist as well as a chiropractor. Many chiropractors don’t have the time to work with the patient on the very important vestibular rehabilitative therapy, a specialized type of physical therapy, that is essential for a good recovery outcome.
Not all cases can be helped with these therapies so it is important to have an appropriate evaluation and be sure that this type of treatment is the right choice and is safe for you. In our office, we work with an Audiologist who performs a study called VNG (videonystagmography), to diagnose the exact cause of the vertigo, dizziness, or balance disorder. Once we know what we are dealing with, it makes it very easy to know whether our treatment is right for you or if you need to rely on another provider for help.
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