This feasibility study was conducted to further the development of a line of investigation into the potential effects of spinal manipulation/manual therapy (chiropractic care) on cervicogenic dizziness, balance, and neck pain in adults.

Dizziness is a common problem that can often lead to disability or psychologic distress in middle-aged and older adults.1-3 A subcategory of dizziness is cervicogenic dizziness, characterized by symptoms of sensations of excessive motion, imbalance, or spinning associated with neck pain and stiffness.4 Cervicogenic dizziness is thought to be caused by abnormal sensory afferent stimulation in the cervical spine.5 Presently, there is some evidence to advocate the use of spinal manipulation (SM) or other manual therapy (MT) techniques for this condition.

A large effect size was calculated for the SF-BBS. Most patients demonstrated improved balance, and some showed reduced dizziness and neck pain after 8 weeks of chiropractic care.

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2. Colledge N.R., Wilson J.A., Macintyre C.C., MacLennan W.J. The prevalence and characteristics of dizziness in an elderly community. Age Ageing. 1994;23(2):117–120.[PubMed]

3. Sloane P., Blazer D., George L.K. Dizziness in a community elderly population. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1989;37(2):101–108. [PubMed]

4. Wrisley D.M., Sparto P.J., Whitney S.L., Furman J.M. Cervicogenic dizziness: a review of diagnosis and treatment. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2000;30(12):755–766. [PubMed]

5. Brandt T., Bronstein A.M. Cervical vertigo. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2001;71(1):8–12. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2786230/