Can Neck Pain and Dizziness Be Connected?

Have you ever noticed that you feel dizzy when your neck is sore or stiff? Or maybe you’ve been experiencing dizziness and wondering whether your neck could have something to do with it.

Dizziness can be really challenging to deal with, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing it. And when neck pain is also part of the picture, it can be difficult to know whether the two symptoms are connected.

So, could your neck be contributing to your dizziness? Let’s take a closer look at how the two might be connected, what to look for, and how physiotherapy may help.

What Do We Mean by Dizziness?

Dizziness is one of those words that can mean different things to different people.

For some, it feels like the room is spinning. Others describe feeling lightheaded, unsteady, floaty, or spacey. Some people feel as though they’re moving when they’re standing still, while others feel off-balance when walking.

These differences matter because the way you experience dizziness, when it happens, and what brings it on can all provide useful clues about what might be contributing to it.

What Causes Dizziness?

There are many causes of dizziness. Some possible causes include:

• Inner ear conditions (i.e. BPPV or infections)

• Migraines

• Cardiovascular conditions (i.e. abnormal heart rhythms or drops in blood pressure)

• Medication side effects 

• Other factors (i.e. anxiety, low blood sugar, anemia, motion sickness)

• Neurological conditions (less common but important to consider)

As you can see, dizziness can have many different causes. In some cases, the neck may also play a role. This is often called cervicogenic  dizziness, a term used when dizziness is thought to be related to the neck. That’s what we’ll focus on here. 

How Can the Neck Contribute to Dizziness?

When you think of it, our necks are quite impressive. They support our heavy heads and allow us to look around. And they also play a role in helping us maintain our balance.

The muscles and joints in our neck have sensory receptors that send information to our brains about the position and movement of our heads. Our brains combine this information with input from our eyes and inner ears to help us understand where we are in space and keep our balance.

When this information doesn’t work together as expected, it may contribute to dizziness in some people. 

Since dizziness has many possible causes, it can be difficult to determine whether the neck is actually contributing to someone’s symptoms. 

So, what might suggest that your neck is involved?

What Are Some Signs That Dizziness Could Be Related to the Neck?

There are a few common clues that may suggest the neck is playing a role in your dizziness.

• Neck pain or stiffness alongside dizziness: your neck feels sore, tight, or restricted, and you experience dizziness around the same time 

• Symptoms that change with certain positions or movements: you might notice symptoms after sitting at a computer for a while, holding your head in one position, or moving your neck in a particular way

• Symptoms that began around the same time as neck pain or an injury

• Changes in how your neck moves: you might notice difficulty moving your head smoothly or accurately

These clues can help build a picture of what’s going on, but they don’t necessarily mean your neck is causing your dizziness. Some symptoms can overlap with other conditions. For example, dizziness brought on by head movements can also occur with inner ear conditions.

That’s why a thorough assessment is so important.

How Is Neck-Related Dizziness Assessed?

Cervicogenic dizziness can be challenging to diagnose. It’s generally considered a diagnosis of exclusion, which means other possible causes of dizziness need to be investigated before symptoms are attributed to the neck.

A physiotherapy assessment may look at:

Your symptoms and medical history

Your physiotherapist will want to understand what you’re experiencing. What does the dizziness feel like? When did it start? How long does it last? What seems to bring it on or make it better?

Information about your neck pain, headaches, recent injuries, medications, and other symptoms can also help build a clearer picture.

Your balance and inner ear function

Depending on your symptoms, your physiotherapist may assess your balance, eye movements, and aspects of your vestibular system (the system in your inner ear that helps you maintain balance).

Your neck movement and function

Your physiotherapist will assess how your neck moves, how the muscles function, and how well you control and coordinate your head and neck movements. They may explore whether particular movements or positions bring on your symptoms.

Taken together, these findings can help your physiotherapist decide whether your neck may be contributing to your dizziness or whether further assessment or referral is needed.

When should you seek medical attention?

Occasionally, dizziness can be a sign of something more serious. If you experience sudden dizziness along with weakness, numbness, difficulty speaking, double vision, or difficulty walking, seek emergency medical care. New and/or severe dizziness also warrants prompt medical attention. 

How Can Physiotherapy Help?

If an assessment suggests that your neck is contributing to your dizziness, physiotherapy may help improve your balance, neck movement, and coordination, as well as reduce neck pain and make everyday activities easier.

Treatment will depend on your symptoms and assessment findings, but it may include a combination of the following.

Neck strengthening

Exercises can help improve the strength and endurance of the muscles that support and control your head and neck.

Neck movement and mobility exercises

Gentle range of motion exercises may help maintain or improve neck movement and coordination.

Exercises to improve awareness of head position

Your brain uses information from your neck to help determine the position of your head. Some exercises aim to improve this sense of position and your ability to move your head accurately.

For example, a physiotherapist might use a small laser attached to a headband. You would move your head and practise returning the laser to a target. This provides visual feedback to help you work on the accuracy of your head movements. 

Balance training

If you’re experiencing unsteadiness or difficulty with balance, your physiotherapist may suggest exercises to help you feel steadier and more confident with everyday activities. These exercises often combine head and neck movements with activities like standing or walking to help improve balance and coordination.

Posture and movement awareness

You might notice that your symptoms change when you’ve been sitting at a computer or looking down at a device for a long time.

Rather than trying to maintain one perfect posture all day, it can be helpful to vary your posture, take frequent short breaks, and find opportunities to move throughout the day.

The Bottom Line

As we’ve discussed, dizziness can be complicated and have many possible causes. A thorough assessment can help determine whether your neck may be contributing to your symptoms. And just like with any physiotherapy concern, treatment should be tailored to you.