“Osteopathy can improve the symptoms and causes of vertigo by improving the drainage of fluids to and from the head..”
Vertigo is a feeling of rotational dizziness where one senses their head or surrounding environment is moving and/or spinning. The body is able to sense position and motion through the vestibulocochlear nerve (cranial nerve eight) which sends messages from the inner ear to the brain.
Causes of vertigo include, and are not limited too:
- specific changes in the position of one’s head.
- trauma to the head.
- inner ear problem affecting the vestibulocochlear nerve and/or the otolith organs (which contain crystals that provide sensitivity to gravity).
- vestibular neuronitis (affecting the nerve of the inner ear).
- meniere’s disease.
- benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) (vertigo triggered by specific positions of your head).
Osteopathy can improve the symptoms and causes of vertigo by improving the drainage of fluids to and from the head so there’s no back-log in pressure. For example, imagine a kink in your garden hose, with continued fluid pressure would result in a pressure build up that continues to build until the area of blockage has been removed or alleviated. Osteopathy looks at each layer of the body from the superficial fascia layer to the muscular tissue layer to the bony tissues. An osteopathic treatment consists of gentle hands doing manual therapy to encourage body alignment and movement where movement is lacking. Increasing movement in the tissues encourages blood flow and drainage to and from the head. For example, an Osteopath may check that all fluid pumps in the body are working as best as they can, such as the respiratory diaphragm in the belly and the superior thoracic aperture/thoracic outlet (found at the front of the chest). Subsequently, following the tissues to find the area of most dysfunction and/or least movement and using manual therapy enabling release in each layer of tissue. This will overall encourage movement and fluid exchange to the areas of dysfunction. Through the assessment and treatment by an Osteopath, there will overall be an improvement in body mechanics leading to improved health, reduced stimulus and stimulus reaction.
Note: Always consult your medical doctor when there are new and/or sudden onset of symptoms.