neck joints and muscles as sensors
Headache, Heavy head, Tilting
Neck pain, Ear pain, Tinnitus
Joint stiffness, Swaying
Pain
Cervicogenic Dizziness is a sensory illusion of motion and disequilibrium. It is common, however people are unsure of what the symptoms mean, let alone that the neck is the source of this dizziness. It is important to correctly identify it and treat it as it does not settle without help. It can be associated with migraine like symptoms, headaches, neck sprain or strain, concussion or whiplash.
Some clues to diagnosis are:
- dizziness with head neck postures or certain movements.
- association with neck or head pains and relief of the dizziness when they pass.
- fluctuating levels of dizziness that last minutes to hours
- symptoms that come on about the time of neck injury.
Physiotherapy Treatment is effective by doing the following.
- build healthy neck muscle activation and stabilisation patterns.
- reduce neck stiffness and pain.
- retrain the ability of the head and neck to re-find set positions.
- for some people the rehabilitation of the inner ear balance sensors is part of treatment. (1)
Reference:
1. Wrisley DM et al. 2000. JOSPT, 30:12. 755-66