Vertigo or dizziness affects millions of people around world each year. In a majority of cases, vertigo is nothing more than a temporary inconvenience. In some cases vertigo is a debilitating condition. Day to day activities are kept to a minimum due to severe dizziness. In many cases, area of dysfunction in nervous system is cerebellum. The cerebellum is in posterior aspect (back part) of brain and controls our coordinated movements.
There are specific tests that chiropractic neurologist utilizes to determine cerebellar function. Standing with your feet together and eyes closed, test is positive if patient sways back and forth. Other tests include: Touching index finger to nose with eyes closed, walking heel to toe, moving fingers rapidly as if playing piano or touching all of your fingers to your thumb as fast as possible. These tests and others are used to determine function of cerebellum.
Treatment of cerebellar dysfunction may include:
1.Unilateral (one sided) Adjustments: Extremities (arms and legs), lumbar (low back) and cervical (neck) spine will be manipulated on one side only to fire muscle spindle cells (muscle receptors) and joint mechanoreceptors (joint receptors) into same cerebellum and opposite cerebral cortex (brain).