Have you ever felt like your balance is off, and you find yourself tripping and/or feeling dizzy? Know that you are not alone. According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association, approximately 40 percent of Americans will experience some form of balance difficulty or dizziness during their lifetime.
The good news is; there is hope.
Chiropractors and chiropractic adjustments can be beneficial for treating vertigo, and in this article, we will find out just how going to a chiropractor can be beneficial in treating vertigo. We will also discover how effective it can be, the number of recommended sessions, and what potential experiences to expect.
How Does Chiropractic Care Help with Vertigo?
There are many different causes and reasons why a person may be experiencing vertigo. Chiropractic care addresses the root cause of the problem rather than just treating the symptoms.
Vertigo can be a result of lack of movement in the motion of the spine - a misalignment of the spine - leading to faulty signals being sent to the brain about parts of the body. This is where chiropractic adjustments are effective, as they help correct spinal misalignments and remove all forms of nerve interference.
Chiropractic care will reposition any misaligned fragments in the inner ear (vestibulocochlear apparatus), also known as, the balance center of the body. When there is excess deposit of debris in the inner ear, this can lead to vertigo. This debris will be eliminated when your body is returned to optimal performance through an adjustment. This alignment brings about the body's proper balance, leading to the reduction of vertigo symptoms.
Maneuver for Canalith Repositioning
The inner ear is made up of particles that help with balance. They are small crystals made up of calcium carbonate. These particles are called canaliths, and the procedures to get them in their proper place is called, "canalith repositioning". The Epley Maneuver is one of the methods used for this repositioning.
What is the Epley Maneuver?
Once your chiropractor is certain you have no obtrusions or problems with vision, he can perform the routine called the Epley Maneuver.
The human body discerns all movement, including its own movement, through the vestibular system. This system is responsible for balance; it helps us go about our daily activities unhindered. When there is an impairment to the vestibular system, it brings about dizziness, loss of balance, and vertigo.
The Epley Maneuver is a non-invasive, simple treatment where the patient is instructed to move and hold the head in specific positions for a predetermined time. The maneuver uses the force of gravity to allow the crystals in the inner ear to move from the fluid in the semicircular canals to an appropriate position in the ear canal.
Chiropractors know what this maneuver can do and can determine if the procedure will be successful.
The success of this procedure is dependent on whether there are crystals in one or both of the patient's ears and the patient's cooperation.
You may experience nausea when the procedure is being performed and find staying in the proper position difficult, as well. If during the procedure, more than one crystal (or an additional crystal) migrate to the semicircular canal, the Epley Maneuver may be repeated several times over several days.
When done correctly, the Epley Maneuver is effective in over 90 percent of all patients . Studies have found the Epley Maneuver to be safe and effective in treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Is Chiropractic Care Effective for Treating Vertigo?
Do you find yourself wondering how effective chiropractic care can be for treating vertigo?
According to a study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine , a 29-year-old man with a 10-year history of progressive cervicogenic dizziness ( imbalance, a sensation of excessive motion, and spinning associated with neck pain) experienced a reduction in dizziness and pain following the Gonstead method of chiropractic spinal manipulative therapy.
Another study published in the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health , involved a 12-year old boy with a long history of chronic neck pain, migraines, and dizziness. After the first week of chiropractic care, he experienced a cessation of his headaches and neck ache. Continued therapy effectively produced a gradual reduction of his vertigo symptoms, until the symptoms ceased entirely.
Research has found no side effects or adverse reactions to chiropractic care for vertigo, making this therapy a very effective treatment option to choose when experiencing vertigo.
How Many Sessions Are Recommended?
Each patient, along with his or her vertigo condition, is uniquely different. With this in mind, your chiropractor will determine the number of sessions and weeks it will take for you based on evaluation and feedback from your body. Often times, you may experience significant improvement after just one session; however, more than one session may be recommended.
What Will It Cost?
The average price per session in the country is $35-$250.The overall cost of your chiropractic treatment for vertigo will depend on the number of sessions that you go to and how frequently you go to an adjustment. For more information, read: How Much Does Chiropractic Therapy Cost?
References
Balance System Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://www.asha.org/practice-portal/clinical-topics/balance-system-disorders/
Chaibi, A., & Tuchin, P. J. (2011, September). Chiropractic spinal manipulative treatment of cervicogenic dizziness using Gonstead method: A case study. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3259942/
Chiropractic Care for Vertigo. (2018, November 02). Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://livingvitallife.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Resolution-of-Vertigo-Migraines-and-Neck-Pain-in-a-12-Year-Old-Boy-Receiving-Chiropractic-Care-3.pdf .
Diagnosis and treatment of anterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. (n.d.). Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2018.1472397
Do, Y., Kim, J., Park, C. Y., Chung, M., Moon, I. S., & Yang, H. (2011, September). The effect of early canalith repositioning on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo on recurrence. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3173700/
Foris, L. A. (2019, March 08). Central Vertigo. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441861/
Hilton, M. P., & Pinder, D. K. (2004, April 19). The Epley (canalith repositioning) manoeuvre for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo - Hilton, MP - 2004 | Cochrane Library. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003162.pub2/abstract
Stanton, M. (2018, October 27). Vertigo. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482356/
Wolf, J. S., Boyev, K. P., Manokey, B. J., & Mattox, D. E. (2009, October 20). Success of the modified epley maneuver in treating benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Retrieved May 9, 2019, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1097/00005537-199906000-00011
