Brisbane Posture and Performance Chiropractic — Carindale, Brisbane southside
Dizziness is one of the most common reasons people see a health practitioner — and one of the most confusing, because “dizzy” means different things to different people. For some it’s a spinning sensation; for others it’s light headedness, a floating feeling, or a sense of being off-balance. Getting clear on which type you’re experiencing matters, because the cause — and the right care — can be very different.
If your unsteadiness comes hand-in-hand with a stiff, painful, or tension-filled neck, the cervical spine may be part of the picture. Below we explain what neck-related dizziness is, what it isn’t, and how an assessment at our Carindale clinic fits in.
First, the important part: not all dizziness is the same
Broadly, dizziness tends to fall into a few categories:
- True vertigo — a spinning sensation, as if you or the room is moving. This is most often related to the inner ear (vestibular system), with conditions such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), vestibular neuritis, or Ménière’s disease.
- Light-headedness or faintness — often related to blood pressure, hydration, medication, or other medical factors.
- Disequilibrium — a general sense of being unsteady on your feet.
- Cervicogenic (neck-related) dizziness — a sense of unsteadiness or disorientation that is associated with neck dysfunction, and which often appears alongside neck pain, stiffness, or headache.
These categories can overlap, and some causes of dizziness need prompt medical attention.
What is cervicogenic (neck-related) dizziness?
The upper neck is rich in joints, muscles, and sensory receptors that constantly feed your brain information about head position and movement. Your brain blends this neck input with signals from your eyes and inner ears to keep you balanced and oriented.
When the neck isn’t moving well — for example after sustained poor posture, a past injury, or ongoing tension — some people experience a mismatch between these signals, which may contribute to a feeling of unsteadiness, “foggy” disorientation, or a sense of swaying. This is generally referred to as cervicogenic dizziness, and it is typically considered when neck symptoms and the dizziness rise and fall together, and other causes have been ruled out.
It’s worth being upfront: the evidence base for manual therapy in cervicogenic dizziness is still developing, and outcomes vary between individuals. Care should always follow a thorough assessment rather than assumptions about the cause.
Where posture and the cervical spine come in
Many of us spend long hours at desks, on phones, and behind wheels — and a sustained “head-forward” posture loads the upper neck and the muscles that support it. Over time this can affect how freely the cervical spine moves.
At Brisbane Posture and Performance Chiropractic, our approach centres on Advanced BioStructural Correction™ (ABC™) — a structural technique focused on identifying and addressing mechanical strain in the spine and improving the way it carries and balances load, including through the upper cervical region. For people whose dizziness appears to be neck-related, addressing cervical movement and posture is one part of the picture we may explore.
To be clear: ABC™ and chiropractic care are not treatments for inner-ear (vestibular) vertigo such as BPPV or Ménière’s disease. Those conditions are managed differently, often with specific repositioning manoeuvres, vestibular rehabilitation, or medical care. Our role is to assess whether your neck is contributing to your symptoms and, if so, whether structural care is appropriate for you.
What an assessment at BPPC involves
If you come in feeling dizzy or unsteady, we take time to understand:
- the type of dizziness you’re experiencing and what triggers it
- whether it tracks with neck pain, stiffness, or headaches
- your posture, cervical spine movement, and relevant history
- whether your presentation suggests a cause that needs referral elsewhere
From there, we’ll talk through what we’ve found and whether care here — or referral to your GP or vestibular physiotherapist — is the most appropriate next step. Where there is only limited evidence for a particular approach, we’ll tell you that, so you can make an informed decision.
Book an assessment in Carindale
If unsteadiness is affecting your day and you suspect your neck may be involved, we’re happy to assess you and give you a straight answer about whether our care is suitable — and to point you in the right direction if it isn’t.
Brisbane Posture and Performance Chiropractic is based in Carindale, serving the southside including Carina, Camp Hill, Coorparoo, Mount Gravatt, Belmont, Wishart, Mansfield, and Cannon Hill.
Book online or call the clinic to discuss whether we can help.