Dizziness and vertigo can be frustrating, disorienting, and even debilitating. At The Path Chiropractic, we commonly see patients who are struggling with these symptoms and have found little lasting relief through conventional approaches.

What’s the Difference Between Dizziness and Vertigo?

• Dizziness is a broad term that includes sensations like lightheadedness, unsteadiness, or feeling "off" in your balance.
• Vertigo is more specific—it’s the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, even when you're still.

Both of these symptoms can severely impact your daily life—and both may be connected to dysfunction in your upper neck.

Dizziness, the Vestibular System, and Your Neck

Dizziness and vertigo stem from dysfunction in your vestibular system—the part of your nervous system responsible for:

• Balance
• Posture
• Spatial awareness (proprioception)
• Visual tracking
• Coordination of head and body movement

This system relies on accurate input from multiple areas of the body, including:

• Your eyes (visual input)
• Your inner ears (balance organs)
• Your jaw
• And critically, your upper neck

Because so many different systems contribute to balance, dizziness can have multiple causes. That’s why we frequently coordinate care with trusted local providers like optometrists, EENTs, and dentists to ensure all potential contributors are addressed.

How the Upper Neck Affects Dizziness

Your upper cervical spine—specifically the top bones in your neck and the surrounding suboccipital muscles—provides critical feedback to your brain about the position and motion of your head.

This sensory input helps your brain understand:

• Where your head is in space
• How fast you’re moving
• Which direction you're facing

This, in turn, helps coordinate your entire body. After all, where the head goes, the body follows.

When joints in the upper neck become misaligned or restricted, the information they send to your brain becomes distorted. This “sensory mismatch” can lead to:

• A feeling of unsteadiness
• Poor posture (e.g., thinking you're upright when you're actually hunched forward)
• Loss of balance or vertigo
• Chronic tension and disorientation

Our Approach: Imaging-Guided Care for Lasting Relief

At The Path Chiropractic, we start with advanced 3D imaging using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to capture a detailed view of your upper cervical spine and skull.

This allows us to:

• Identify subtle misalignments that may be disrupting sensory input
• Analyze joint function with high precision
• Develop a personalized care plan tailored to your unique anatomy

We then correct the misalignment with a gentle, low-force, image-guided adjustment designed specifically for the upper neck. Our approach maximizes safety, precision, and long-term effectiveness.

You Don’t Have to Live Dizzy

Whether you’ve been diagnosed with vertigo, or just feel “off” more often than not, upper cervical care could be the missing piece in your recovery.

If you’re ready to stop guessing and start getting real answers, schedule a consultation today. We’ll help you get to the root cause of your dizziness and restore your balance—naturally.

‍