Why You Feel Vertigo and Dizziness, Not Your Inner Ear | Dr. Matthew Posa, Chiropractor in Milton ON

Vertigo and dizziness are not always caused by the inner ear. In many cases, altered signals from the upper neck can disrupt how the brain processes balance. When input from the neck and inner ear do not match, the brain may produce symptoms like vertigo, unsteadiness, or spatial disorientation. This is known as cervicogenic dizziness. This applies to people who continue to experience vertigo or dizziness even after treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). It is often misunderstood because most assessments focus only on the inner ear. Cervicogenic dizziness differs from BPPV in that symptoms are commonly linked to neck movement, posture, or prior injury rather than positional crystal displacement alone. Cervicogenic dizziness originates from dysfunction in the upper cervical spine, especially C1 and C2. These joints contain mechanoreceptors that send position data to the brainstem. When disrupted, conflicting signals arise between the neck and vestibular system, leading to dizziness. Unlike BPPV, which involves inner ear crystals, this condition involves neurological signal mismatch. Targeted upper cervical correction aims to restore accurate signaling and reduce symptoms, especially in cases where vestibular treatments fail. In this video, you will learn: - How cervicogenic dizziness differs from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). - Why dysfunction at C1 and C2 can cause vertigo and dizziness. - What a proper upper cervical assessment includes and how it guides treatment. Dr. Matthew Posa, Upper Cervical Chiropractor, Milton, Ontario FAQ What is cervicogenic dizziness? It is dizziness caused by dysfunction in the neck, not the inner ear. Can vertigo come from the neck? Yes, altered signals from the upper cervical spine can disrupt balance processing. How is BPPV different from cervicogenic dizziness? BPPV involves inner ear crystals, while cervicogenic dizziness involves neck-related signal mismatch. Why does dizziness persist after BPPV treatment? The underlying issue may be cervical, not vestibular. What helps cervicogenic dizziness? Accurate assessment and correction of upper cervical spine dysfunction. Live near Milton Ontario? Want Help? Book your New Patient Consultation and Exam Here: https://thehealthyfamily.ca/welcome Dr. Matthew Posa, MChiro., D.C. The Healthy Family Chiropractic Milton, ON L9T 0J4 Tel: 905.864.1516 Web: https://thehealthyfamily.ca/welcome www.thehealthyfamily.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHealthyFamily/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthyfamilymilton/ Please subscribe to our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNqpnrCuW_Vse_WugkdkbLg CHAPTERS: 00:00 - INTRO 00:42 - Why BPPV Is Not the Whole Story 02:55 - Is Your Neck the Source of Your Vertigo? 03:21 - What a Proper Upper Cervical Assessment Looks Like 04:24 - Patient Story 05:59 - OUTRO AS ALWAYS, PLEASE CHECK WITH YOUR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO DETERMINE IF THE CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO ARE APPROPRIATE FOR YOU SPECIFICALLY. Some or all of these stretches/exercises/movements may be contraindicated if you have certain underlying spinal conditions such as spinal degeneration, spinal stenosis, disc bulge/herniation, instabilities, and other undiagnosed spinal problems. Any questions about the content or whether it is appropriate for you? Please leave them in the comments section below. ** Channel Disclaimer ** The information provided is strictly for educational/information purposes ONLY. The information provided on this channel, all videos, and all comments and replies to comments/questions is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute medical, chiropractic, health or other advice of any kind or nature. No professional relationship exists or existed by viewing / interacting with the content on this channel. The viewer or recipient of information on this channel / videos / replies to comments should consult a physician and / or their primary health care provider in matters relating to their health. This channel / videos / replies to comments does not contain all information available regarding the subjects addressed in this channel / videos / replies to comments and it may be outdated. This channel / videos / replies to comments has not been created to be specific to any individual’s needs. The creator/owner of this channel has no liability or responsibility whatsoever to any person or entity regarding any matter related to this channel / videos / replies to comments and / or its contents.