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Stop the spinning. Targeted chiropractic care for BPPV, cervicogenic dizziness, and balance issues in Bridgeton, MO.
Vertigo is a specific kind of dizziness where you or the room around you feels like it is spinning, tilting, or moving when nothing is actually moving. It is different from lightheadedness or feeling faint, and the distinction matters because the causes and treatments are different. True vertigo almost always involves either the vestibular system in the inner ear, the upper cervical spine, or the brain pathways that connect the two.
At Advanced Wellness Chiropractic in Bridgeton, MO, Dr. JC treats two of the most common causes of vertigo seen in chiropractic practice: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and cervicogenic dizziness. BPPV happens when tiny calcium crystals in the inner ear become dislodged and disrupt the signals your brain uses to track head position. Cervicogenic dizziness develops when joint dysfunction or muscle tension in the upper neck disrupts the input the brain receives about head position and movement.
Most patients arrive in our office after weeks or months of episodes. They describe waking up and feeling the bedroom spin when they sit up, or feeling unsteady every time they turn their head to back the car out of the driveway. Others describe a constant low-grade swimming sensation that has worn them down. The right treatment depends entirely on the cause, which is why a careful examination is the most important first step.
The good news is that the two most common forms of vertigo respond well to specific, conservative chiropractic care. The Epley maneuver and other canalith-repositioning techniques resolve most BPPV cases within a handful of visits. Upper cervical adjustments and soft tissue work address cervicogenic dizziness directly. Both are non-invasive, drug-free, and have strong clinical support.
Most vertigo is mechanical or vestibular and responds to conservative care. The following warning signs mean you should be seen by an ER or your primary care doctor right away rather than scheduling a chiropractic visit:
Vertigo presents differently depending on the cause. Recognizing your specific pattern helps determine whether your symptoms point to BPPV, cervicogenic dizziness, or something else.
The first step in our office is determining the actual cause of your dizziness. Dr. JC uses a series of well-validated tests including the Dix-Hallpike maneuver to identify BPPV and provoke the specific semicircular canal involved, plus orthopedic and neurological screens to evaluate the upper cervical spine and rule out red flags. The exam takes 15 to 20 minutes and tells us exactly which type of vertigo we are dealing with.
For BPPV, the Epley maneuver is the primary treatment. This is a specific sequence of head and body positions that moves the displaced inner ear crystals out of the semicircular canal and back into the utricle where they belong. The maneuver is gentle, takes only a few minutes, and often produces dramatic relief in a single visit. Some patients need two or three sessions if multiple canals are involved or symptoms are long-standing.
For cervicogenic dizziness, chiropractic adjustments restore proper motion to the upper cervical joints, particularly C1 and C2 where most position-sensing input originates. These adjustments are gentle and precise, especially in patients with a history of whiplash or neck injury. Soft tissue work on the suboccipital muscles, sternocleidomastoid, and upper trapezius reduces the muscle tension that often accompanies and perpetuates the dizziness.
We also address contributing factors that keep vertigo coming back. Screen-heavy work, poor sleep posture, jaw clenching, and unaddressed headaches all feed cervicogenic dizziness. We work with you on simple changes that protect the gains you make in the office.
Every vertigo patient at Advanced Wellness Chiropractic starts with a careful history and screening exam. From there, we build a treatment plan from the following components based on what is driving your symptoms:
Canalith-repositioning technique that moves displaced inner ear crystals out of the semicircular canals. The gold standard for BPPV.
Gentle, precise adjustment of C1 and C2 to restore the proprioceptive input the brain uses for balance and orientation.
Targeted soft tissue work on the suboccipital muscles, SCM, and upper trapezius to release tension that drives cervicogenic dizziness.
Home exercises that retrain the balance system and reduce recurrence after the canalith-repositioning is complete.
Yes, particularly for the most common types of vertigo: cervicogenic vertigo (caused by neck dysfunction) and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV, caused by displaced inner ear crystals). Chiropractors trained in vestibular care use gentle cervical adjustments, the Epley maneuver, and soft tissue work on the upper neck and jaw to reduce symptoms. Many patients in Bridgeton see meaningful improvement within one to three visits. Central or vascular causes of dizziness need medical workup first; we screen for those before starting any treatment.
The Epley maneuver is a sequence of head and body positions designed to move displaced calcium crystals out of the semicircular canals of the inner ear and back to where they belong. It is the gold standard treatment for BPPV and is extremely safe when performed correctly. Most patients feel a brief intensification of symptoms during the maneuver, then significant relief. Some experience full resolution after a single session. Dr. JC will determine which canal is involved and perform the appropriate variation.
Cervicogenic dizziness usually comes with neck stiffness, headaches at the base of the skull, and dizziness that gets worse with certain head positions or after long periods of looking down. Unlike BPPV, the spinning sensation tends to be milder and more like floating, swaying, or feeling off balance. If your dizziness started after a car accident, whiplash, or extended desk work, the upper cervical spine is a likely contributor. A proper exam will confirm whether neck dysfunction is driving your symptoms.
Sudden severe vertigo combined with double vision, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the face or limbs, severe headache, trouble walking, or loss of consciousness warrants an immediate ER visit. These can signal a stroke, transient ischemic attack, or other vascular event. Vertigo accompanied by new hearing loss, ear pain, or recent head trauma also needs urgent medical evaluation. We screen for these red flags at every visit before any chiropractic care.
BPPV often resolves in one to three visits with the Epley maneuver and basic home exercises. Cervicogenic dizziness typically improves over four to six weeks of consistent care that addresses both the upper cervical joints and the supporting muscles. Recovery time depends on how long the vertigo has been present, whether there is underlying neck pain or whiplash, and how well you can manage triggers like long phone use or poor sleep posture between visits.
Precise upper cervical adjustments restore the joint motion that drives normal balance signals to the brain.
Learn MoreVertigo and neck pain often travel together. Treating both at once produces better long-term results.
Learn MoreDizziness after a car accident is often whiplash-related and responds well to combined cervical and vestibular care.
Learn MoreCervicogenic headaches and cervicogenic dizziness share the same root cause and improve together with treatment.
Learn MoreAdvanced Wellness Chiropractic
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