Cervical Vertigo

What is Cervical Vertigo?

Vertigo or dizziness occasionally accompanies a neck injury. The precise incidence is controversial. Nevertheless, cervical vertigo is matter of considerable concern because of the high litigation related costs of whiplash injuries.
When cervical vertigo is diagnosed, the usual symptoms are dizziness associated with neck movement. There should be no hearing symptoms or findings but there may be ear pain (otalgia). Brandt (1996) has recently reviewed this topic.

What Causes Cervical Vertigo?

Physiologically, there are two well recognized potential causes of cervical vertigo:
Vascular compression. The vertebral arteries in the neck can be compressed by the vertebrae (which they traverse), or other structures. Arthritis, surgery, chiropractic manipulation are all possibilities. The most common cause of vertebral dissection is chiropractic manipulation (Vibert et al, ORL, 1993). For this reason, we recommend against chiropractic treatment of vertigo that includes "snapping" or forceful manipulation of the vertigo.
Abnormal sensory input from neck proprioceptors. Sensory information from the neck may be unreliable or absent. Sensory information from the neck is combined with vestibular and visual information to determine the position of the head on the neck, and space. This mechanism was investigated by DeJong and DeJong who injected local anesthetics into their own necks. Such injections caused unsteadiness and minor amounts of dizziness. It is possible that some individuals are more sensitive than others, and also that neck inputs interact with other causes of vertigo.
The neck also interacts with other types of vertigo. Neck input may be used as sensory input to assist in stabilizing vision. This can be easily demonstrated by eliciting ocular nystagmus from vibration of the neck, in individuals who are otherwise well compensated.
Source- American Hearing Research Foundation