Restore Your Balance, Reduce Dizziness, and Get Back to Living with Confidence
What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is the false sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving, even when you’re standing still. While many people use the word dizziness to describe a variety of symptoms, true vertigo is just one type of balance disorder.
These symptoms can result from problems within the inner ear, restricted movement in the neck, previous head or neck injuries, or disruptions in how your brain processes balance and body position. Because many conditions can produce similar symptoms, identifying the underlying cause is the first step toward effective treatment.
Common Causes
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Cervicogenic dizziness (neck-related dizziness)
- Concussion or whiplash injuries
- Vestibular dysfunction
- Joint restrictions in the cervical spine
- Muscle tension affecting normal head and neck movement
If left untreated, vertigo and balance disorders can increase your risk of falls, reduce movement confidence, and interfere with everyday activities.
Common Symptoms
You may experience one or more of the following:
- A spinning or moving sensation
- Dizziness with changes in head position
- Poor balance or unsteadiness
- Nausea or motion sensitivity
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Neck pain or stiffness accompanying dizziness
Hosmer Chiropractic Health provides comprehensive evaluation and treatment for vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders throughout the greater Portland metro area. Our chiropractors combine evidence-based chiropractic care and targeted exercises to reduce dizziness, restore balance, and help you return to driving, working, exercising, traveling, and enjoying everyday life with confidence.
Practitioner List
The following providers specialize in vertigo & dizziness care.
Pearl District
Oregon City
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
At Hosmer, we recognize that dizziness and vertigo don’t always have a single cause. Some patients experience symptoms originating from the inner ear, while others develop dizziness following neck injuries, concussions, or changes in cervical function. Our goal is to identify the contributing factors and create a personalized treatment plan based on your specific condition.
Maintaining your balance depends on three systems working together:
- Your inner ear (vestibular system)
- Your vision
- Information from your muscles, joints, and nervous system (proprioception)
When one of these systems isn’t functioning properly — or when your neck is sending inaccurate information to your brain — dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems can develop.
Every case is different. Some conditions respond well to chiropractic care, while others require medical evaluation or collaboration with another healthcare provider. Our first priority is making an accurate assessment so you can receive the best care. If we believe your symptoms are related to a condition outside our scope, we’ll help refer you to the appropriate provider.
Our Treatment Approach
Maintaining your balance depends on three systems working toOur treatment may include:
- Comprehensive evaluation: A detailed examination helps determine whether your symptoms are consistent with BPPV, cervicogenic dizziness, vestibular dysfunction, or another condition.
- Epley maneuver and canalith repositioning: For patients with BPPV, our specially trained providers perform repositioning maneuvers designed to move displaced calcium crystals within the inner ear back where they belong, often providing rapid symptom relief.
- Gentle chiropractic adjustments: Restoring normal motion to the cervical spine can improve joint function, reduce muscle tension, and decrease abnormal sensory input that may contribute to dizziness.
- Soft tissue therapy: Targeted treatment of tight neck and upper back muscles helps improve mobility, reduce tension, and support normal movement patterns.
- Home exercise programs: We provide individualized exercise and movement strategies to reinforce your progress between visits and support long-term recovery.
Our evidence-based approach focuses on restoring balance, improving function, and helping you safely return to your desired lifestyle.
Answers to Common Questions About Vertigo & dizziness Treatment.
Q: How do I know if I have vertigo or just dizziness?
A: Vertigo is the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving. Dizziness is a broader term that can also include lightheadedness, imbalance, or feeling unsteady. Our evaluation helps determine the underlying cause of your symptoms so we can recommend the most appropriate treatment.
Q: Can chiropractic care help vertigo?
A: Yes, depending on the cause. Chiropractic care may help patients experiencing cervicogenic dizziness, and trained providers can perform repositioning maneuvers such as the Epley maneuver for patients with BPPV.
Q: What is the Epley maneuver?
A: The Epley maneuver is a series of carefully guided head and body movements used to treat BPPV. It helps reposition tiny calcium crystals within the inner ear, often reducing or eliminating vertigo symptoms.
Q: How many treatments will I need?
A: Recovery depends on the underlying cause of your symptoms. Some patients with BPPV experience significant improvement after one or two treatments, while others with more complex conditions benefit from a longer course of care that includes chiropractic treatment and home exercises.
Q: Can vertigo come back?
A: Some forms of vertigo, including BPPV, can recur. We not only focus on relieving your current symptoms but also improving neck function, balance, movement patterns, and overall stability to help reduce the likelihood of future episodes.
Q: When should I seek emergency medical attention?
A: Sudden dizziness accompanied by a severe headache, vision changes, slurred speech, weakness, numbness, chest pain, difficulty walking, or loss of consciousness may be a sign of a serious medical condition, such as a stroke. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately. These symptoms should be evaluated by emergency medical professionals before seeking chiropractic care.
