Vestibular Migraines and How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Can Help
What Are Vestibular Migraines?
Vestibular migraines are a type of migraine that affect the vestibular system — the inner ear and brain network that controls balance, coordination, and spatial awareness.
Unlike traditional migraines that center on head pain, vestibular migraines often cause:
Dizziness or vertigo (a spinning or floating sensation)
Imbalance or unsteady walking
Nausea or motion sensitivity
Visual disorientation
Head pressure, light sensitivity, or mild headache
These symptoms can last from minutes to days, and because they’re not always painful, vestibular migraines are frequently misdiagnosed as ear, sinus, or anxiety-related issues.
What’s Happening in the Body
Research suggests that vestibular migraines stem from disrupted communication between the brainstem, inner ear, and neck’s proprioceptive system — the sensors that tell your brain where your head is in space.
Even subtle dysfunction in this network can create a mismatch between what your body feels and what your eyes see, leading to dizziness, imbalance, and nausea.
Factors that can contribute include:
Head or neck injuries (even minor whiplash or falls)
Hormonal changes or metabolic stress
Chronic muscle tension around the neck and skull
Circulatory changes affecting the inner ear
The upper cervical spine (C1 and C2) sits directly beneath the brainstem and has a profound influence on these sensory systems.
How Upper Cervical Chiropractic Care Helps
Upper Cervical Chiropractic care focuses on the alignment and function of the atlas (C1) and axis (C2) vertebrae — the top two bones of the spine that protect the brainstem and support proper head positioning.
A gentle, precise correction in this area can help:
Restore normal brainstem and vestibular signaling
Normalize blood and cerebrospinal fluid flow between the brain and body
Recalibrate proprioceptive input from the neck, reducing confusion between balance systems
Relax chronic muscle tension that contributes to imbalance and pressure
Over time, many patients report fewer dizzy episodes, improved stability, and greater tolerance to motion and light.
A Natural Way to Find Balance Again
Vestibular migraines can make simple activities—walking, driving, or working—feel overwhelming.
Upper Cervical Chiropractic care offers a natural, non-invasive way to address the root communication imbalance between the neck and nervous system, helping your body regain equilibrium and reduce migraine triggers.
References
Furman JM, Marcus DA, Balaban CD. Vestibular migraine: clinical aspects and pathophysiology. Lancet Neurology. 2013.
Brennan KC, Pietrobon D. A systems neuroscience approach to migraine. Neuron. 2018.
Hülse M, et al. Cervical proprioception and vestibular migraine: an overlooked connection. Frontiers in Neurology. 2020.
