Causes of dizziness

Causes of dizziness covers Susan Herdman's superb book called Vestibular Rehabilitation.

The dizzy patient quite regularly appears in the chiropractic office. They have heard down the health grapevine that an adjustment of the neck can fix the spinning world.

That, you would think, would please chiropractors. Yes, it does but, and it's a very big but, with the recent prominence given to chiropractic stroke, extremely rare though it may be, many chiropractors have become increasingly anxious about giving that much needed adjustment to the patient suffering from vertigo.

A recent survey of 29 000 patients with neck related conditions revealed that 70 percent plus stated confidently that they obtained immediate relief, but 4.8 percent stated that they had worsening of symptoms. A analysis of this small group showed that many had presented with dizziness.

Are there others causes of dizziness and alternative ways to manage the dizzy patient? Safer ways; is dizziness always cervicogenic?

Susan Herdman's authoritative compilation of articles by more than twenty experts in the field, now in its third edition, is a must on every chiropractor's desk, if he or she wants to treat the patient suffering from vertigo. Yes, there's a difference between vertigo and dizziness. Is the patient also experiencing nystagmus.

Imagine a simple technique that can be done in the chiropractic clinic that can safely and quickly address vertigo? Called the Epley manoeuvres, these techniques are a must in every chiropractor's toolbox.

This is particularly true with the new emphasis on neurology in the profession.

Perhaps even more important, a simple test called the Hallpike Dix manoeuvre that can quickly establish that this is not a patient to adjust the upper cervicals; not initially anyway.

Now that Chiropractic Neurologists are finding many convincing scientific explanations as to why chiropractic works, there appears to be a shift towards giving neurology more prominence in our Chiropractic Philosophy lectures.

Chapters in this easy to read book, include:

• Anatomy and Physiology of the normal Vestibular system.
• Role of the Vestibular system in postural control.
• Migraine, Meniere's ...
• History and clinical examination
• Management of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
• and much more.

This is a book that one can dip into, easily find what is useful and relevant to the chiropractor. Well laced with easy to follow pictures, this is one of the best texts that I have bought in recent years. I wouldn't be without it on my shelf.

Causes of dizziness

Causes of dizziness are legend; this is a must on every chiropractor's bookshelf.