Strengthening the cervical spine muscles against vertigo and dizziness

Cervical neck pain: source of dizziness and vertigo

According to the WHO, dizziness is one of the most common symptoms among the population and it becomes more frequent with age. Over half of those above the age of 65 suffer from dizziness, and it is the third most common reason for outpatient visits. In many cases it is not just passing discomfort, as 80% of these patients require medical treatment to improve their symptoms.

Dizziness is an unspecific term that covers a wide group of symptoms that include instability, discomfort, loss of balance, blurry vision, weakness, etc. Dizziness is a difficult symptom to evaluate and treat, as it often complicated to ascertain its cause or it is due to diverse factors.

Vertigo is a symptom that consists of a false perception of movement. The patient notices that they or their surroundings are moving without any movement actually taking place. Vertigo can even frequently lead to eyesight disorders, nausea and vomiting. The duration of the episodes might vary from a few seconds to hours or even days in more serious cases.

The source of dizziness and vertigo is difficult to determine and might be due to a great many reasons (cardiovascular, neurological, psychological, hearing, etc.). However, it is calculated that half of the patients visiting the doctor with these symptoms have a problem in the cervical spine. The neck is a delicate area where blood vessels, cervical nerves, cranial nerves, and the top part of the spinal cord meet. The position of the upper cervical vertebrae is the reference for the vestibular system to maintain and perceive balance. A misalignment of the upper cervical vertebrae can lead to dizziness due to a lack of blood flow and alterations in the pathways connecting to the central nervous system, affecting the vestibular system and causing symptoms of vertigo.

Multi-disciplinary treatment of dizziness and vertigo

At Wunder Training, we provide personalised treatment of cervical neck problems, dizziness and vertigo to meet the needs and adapt to the initial condition of the person at the time of their enquiry. Not everyone who contact us has the same symptoms or the same level of intensity of these symptoms. Some have been suffering from these problems for years and have a very high intensity level, while in other their episode has been a one-off and can be solved more easily. We must therefore be able to adapt the treatment to the needs of each person.

1. Medical Examination to establish the diagnosis

The first thing to be done is to perform a medical examination to establish the diagnosis, go over the additional medical tests and design the guidelines for treatment in each specific case. During this first visit, our rehab physicians perform a thorough 30-minute medical examination in which they will advise on the best treatment for you (pharmacological, physiotherapy, osteopathy, medical muscle strengthening therapy or a combination of any of these). This medical examination also rules out other possible causes (neurological, drug intoxication, heart problems, etc.) that would require referring the patient to the corresponding specialist physician.

2. Physiotherapy and Osteopathy in severe cases

In our physiotherapy and osteopathy area we use manual therapy to treat all kinds of pain in the spinal column, including those related to dizziness and vertigo. Our 60-minute sessions are always individual and are performed by a team of 10 professionals with extensive experience. Before starting the treatment, it is important to calm the patient because nerves make the problem worse. The treatment is based on correctly re-aligning the cervical vertebrae using different techniques, such as osteopathic manipulation. This will enable us to improve the blood flow and nerve supply, allowing the body to develop all its functions in the best possible conditions, decreasing the feeling of dizziness or the onset of vertigo.

3. The main cause of cervical neck problems: the lack of strength

 The atrophy or lack of strength of the deep muscles of the neck region is often the direct or indirect cause of these cervical neck problems. Muscle atrophy means that the muscles are unable to ensure the stability of the spinal column. This instability, combined with poor posture, leads to pain and misalignments of the vertebrae in the cervical neck region, which could result in dizziness and vertigo.

Medical Cervical Neck Strengthening Therapy is the treatment of choice for those who have been suffering from problems in the cervical spine, intense pain, or who have had symptoms of chronic dizziness and vertigo for some time. By specifically strengthening the cervical neck muscles, we are able to eliminate or quite significantly decrease these symptoms in a vast majority of cases. This medical muscle strengthening treatment is conducted using the Medx Medical Cervical Extension machine. This equipment enables us to analyse the strength of the muscles and allows for the isolated strengthening of the deep muscles of the spinal column. The treatment is controlled by our medical team (at the start, half-way through, and at the end) and the sessions are accompanied by a physiotherapist. It lasts for 12-18 sessions, with two 30-minute sessions a week.

You can improve your cervical neck discomfort, contractures, dizziness and vertigo by strengthening the cervical spine. It acts directly on the cause of the problem: the lack of strength of the cervical neck muscles.