VERTIGO and BALANCE DISORDERS

Vertigo is one of the most common symptoms of balance disorders, often described as the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, tilting, or moving when they’re not. It is not a disease itself but a symptom of an underlying problem affecting the body’s balance systems — the inner ear (vestibular system), eyes, brain, and spinal cord.

Vertigo can be unsettling and disruptive, leading to:

• Difficulty walking or standing still without losing balance
   
• Nausea or vomiting during episodes
   
• Trouble focusing vision and coordinating movement
   
• Anxiety or fear of future episodes, which can limit daily activities
   

Even short episodes can significantly impact quality of life, especially when they strike without warning.

• A spinning or swaying sensation
   
• Nausea and sometimes vomiting
   
• Sensitivity to head movement
   
• Loss of balance or unsteadiness
   
• Blurred or double vision
   
• Feeling “pulled” to one side

Dizziness and vertigo are not limited to one age group or health profile — they can affect anyone, from young athletes to older adults, and especially those with neurological conditions.

• Risk Factors: Concussions, whiplash injuries, inner ear trauma, and repeated head impacts.
   
• Impact: Even mild balance dysfunction can reduce reaction time, impair coordination, and increase the risk of further injury.
   
• Examples: A soccer player experiencing spinning sensations after a head collision, or a gymnast feeling “off balance” after repeated flips.
   

• Risk Factors: Natural age-related decline in vestibular function, vision changes, slower reaction times, and medication side effects.
   
• Impact: Increased risk of falls, reduced independence, and fear of movement.
   
• Examples: Feeling unsteady when standing up quickly, or dizziness when turning the head.
   

• Risk Factors: Stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, neuropathy, or traumatic brain injury.
   
• Impact: Neurological impairment can disrupt the brain’s ability to process balance signals, leading to persistent dizziness or instability.
   
• Examples: A stroke survivor experiencing vertigo when walking, or someone with MS feeling unsteady due to disrupted nerve signaling.
   

1. Peripheral Vertigo – Originates in the inner ear or vestibular nerve.
 

• Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Triggered by head movements due to displaced inner ear crystals.
   
• Meniere’s Disease: Caused by fluid buildup in the inner ear, also affecting hearing.
   

2. Central Vertigo – Originates in the brainstem or cerebellum.
 

• Vestibular Migraine: Dizziness caused by abnormal brain processing of sensory input, sometimes without headache.
   
• Neurological Causes: Such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, or brain injury.
   

Vertigo treatment should go beyond just the inner ear. A brain-based approach considers the entire balance network:

• Inner Ear (Vestibular System): Detects motion and spatial position.
   
• Eyes: Provide visual orientation.
   
• Brain & Brainstem: Integrate sensory information to coordinate movement.
   
• Cervical Spine: Supplies proprioceptive feedback to help maintain posture.
   

Brain-based care involves detailed neurological assessment to pinpoint where communication is breaking down, followed by targeted therapy — such as vestibular rehabilitation, eye movement training, cervical spine adjustments, and neuroplasticity-based exercises.

By retraining the brain to integrate balance signals effectively, this approach addresses the root cause of vertigo, not just the symptoms, leading to improved stability, reduced dizziness, and restored confidence. Remember you are an athlete. Even if you dont play a "sport" you are an athlete of your own life. 

Schedule your comprehensive neurological and chiropractic exam today and start your path toward long-term dizziness/balance relief.📅