Why a tight neck can make you feel dizzy

I want to talk a little about vertigo and dizziness, and how the neck fits into that picture.

We see this so many times, especially with stress. People spend hours looking down at phones and computers. Their traps, the muscles across the tops of their shoulders, get tight. All of that creates a lot of physical stress in the upper and lower parts of the neck.

The significance of this is that there are so many nerves right at the base of the neck that act as balance sensors. There are also a lot of stretch sensors, called muscle spindles, up there. Those sensors help you know where you are in space.

Your neck actually works with your eyes and your inner ear to do that. Together, they help you keep your balance.

Proprioception is a bigger deal than most people think

Proprioception is huge, and a lot of people don't think about what your brain and your body actually have to do to know where you are in space.

Even when there is pressure on the nerves in different parts of your spine, let's just say your low back, your legs often won't fully know where they are in space. That's why, a lot of times, people's knees or legs will give out unexpectedly. They're not getting the nerve signal they're supposed to.

When we talk about the neck, a lot of pressure on those nerves and sensors can keep your brain from coordinating what it hears from your ears, your eyes, and your neck. That can leave you feeling dizzy.

What we look at

When this happens, we look at your X-rays carefully. We want to see where there is tension in the neck, and then start to take that tension off.

Often, the muscles will lock the spine down, so you no longer have normal motion there. Then the muscles tense up even more, because they're trying to protect the spine.

What we do is look at those X-rays, assess them, and use palpation to feel what is happening in your neck. We need to get those spinal bones moving the way they should. That includes your atlas and your axis at the top, and a lot of times even lower, all the way down to C5 or C7. When those bones are moving appropriately, your body can start functioning the way it's supposed to.

Things you can do

Here are a few simple things that can help while we work on restoring that motion.

• Chin tucks. Sit tall or lie down. Gently nod like you are saying yes, just a little. Hold for about 10 seconds, and repeat that 10 times. Keep it gentle. It should not hurt.
• Gaze stability. Look at a word on a card. Slowly turn your head from side to side while you keep that word clear. Do this for 30 to 60 seconds. If it brings on strong symptoms, stop and ask us to tailor it for you.
• Head relocation. Close your eyes, turn your head, then try to bring it back to center. You can check yourself in a mirror.
• Screen breaks. Every 20 to 30 minutes, stand up, roll your shoulders, and look across the room.
• Give your system a chance to calm down. Slow breathing, a walk, and good sleep all help. When stress comes down, those tight trap muscles often ease up too.
• Drink enough water, especially here in Arizona. Dehydration can make you lightheaded on its own.
• If dizziness lasts more than a few days, keeps coming back, or started after a car accident or a fall, come see us so we can take a closer look.

If dizziness comes on suddenly with trouble speaking, a change in your vision, weakness, numbness, or a severe headache, that needs emergency care right away. Call 911.

If your neck has been tight and you have been feeling off balance, our headaches and neck page talks more about how we help with that. We would be glad to look at what is going on and get you a clear plan.