VERTIGO

What Is Vertigo?

Vertigo is the false sense of motion — you or your surroundings feel as though they’re spinning or moving when you’re actually still. It’s distinct from general dizziness, which feels more like lightheadedness or unsteadiness. Vertigo often comes with nausea, imbalance, or difficulty focusing on visual cues. Around Olympia, we often see flare-ups tied to long commutes, time on boats or ferries, or even looking up or down repeatedly during everyday tasks — simple motions that can unsettle the balance system.

Common Causes and Contributing Factors

Several systems and triggers can lead to vertigo. The most common include:

BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo), when crystals in the inner ear shift and confuse balance signals
Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis, inner ear inflammation disrupting signals
Fluid imbalance or Meniere’s disease, where pressure changes interfere with ear function
Cervicogenic vertigo, when neck misalignments or motion dysfunction interfere with sensory input
Whiplash or head trauma that affects neck mechanics or inner ear systems
Vascular or neurological conditions, less common but important to rule out
Medication side effects or systemic factors that worsen balance

Because vertigo often involves more than one system, we always consider how the inner ear, neck, and brain might be interacting in your case.

How We Evaluate Vertigo at Northwest Chiropractic

Evaluation begins with a detailed conversation: when episodes started, what triggers them, how long they last, and what symptoms accompany them such as ringing in the ears, hearing changes, or headaches. We then perform a set of balance and vestibular tests including Dix-Hallpike, eye tracking, head impulse, posture, and cervical range of motion.

If needed, we may coordinate imaging, audiology referrals, or vestibular lab testing to rule out serious causes. This layered approach helps us understand the full picture, not just one piece.

Our Approach to Treating Vertigo

Treatment is based on what your evaluation shows. Options may include:

Specific analysis and correction of the Cranio-Cervical Junction (CCJ) in order to reduce cervical subluxation
Repositioning maneuvers such as Epley or Semont for BPPV
Gentle cervical adjustments when neck function contributes to imbalance
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises to retrain balance pathways
Soft tissue and muscle release in the neck and upper back
Supportive therapies such as targeted massage or low-level modalities
Lifestyle and movement coaching to reduce recurrences
Collaborative care with ENT or neurology when needed

The goal is to reduce vertigo episodes, improve steadiness, and rebuild confidence in daily movement.

What You Can Expect

Many patients notice improvement in frequency or intensity of episodes within the first few visits, especially if the problem is recent. Chronic or complex cases may take more consistent care. Throughout your plan we monitor progress and adjust as needed, with the aim of both fewer episodes and greater resilience.