Is There a Role for Neck Manipulation
in Elderly Falls Prevention? -
An OverviewThis section was compiled by Frank M. Painter, D.C.
Send all comments or additions to: Frankp@chiro.org
FROM: J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2015 (Mar); 59 (1): 53–63 ~ FULL TEXT
OPEN ACCESS Julie C. Kendall, BAppSc, MClinChiro, Michael F. Azari, BAppSc(Chiro), BSc(Hons), PhD
Jan Hartvigsen, DC, PhD, Simon D. French, BAppSc(Chiro), MPH, PhD,
Discipline of Chiropractic,
School of Health Sciences,
RMIT University,
Melbourne, Australia
Many risk factors exist for falls in the elderly. Dizziness is an important risk factor for such falls. Spinal pain has also been identified as a risk factor for these falls. In this overview of the literature, we examine studies, including trials, of neck manipulation for neck pain, unsteadiness and falls risk relevant to the elderly. We also examine two related, but not mutually exclusive, mechanisms through which a putative beneficial effect may be mediated. These are the effects of neck manipulation on neck pain and on non-specific dizziness. We focus on the available evidence primarily in terms of clinical data rather than laboratory-based measures of balance. We conclude that chiropractors may have a role in falls prevention strategies in the subpopulation of the elderly that suffer from mechanical neck pain or dysfunction and non-specific dizziness. However, this role remains to be rigorously studied and properly defined.
Keywords: dizziness, elderly, risk factor, neck pain, manipulation, chiropractic
Introduction
Falls in the elderly can be due to many causes. Dizziness is an important risk factor for these falls. In this overview of the literature, we examine the relationship between non-specific dizziness, an important form of dizziness in the elderly [1], and neck pain and dysfunction. We further examine whether rigorous evaluation of neck manipulation is justified for the treatment of non-specific dizziness that is concomitant with chronic neck pain or dysfunction, with the aim of reducing the risk of falls in the elderly. This review does not focus on research data in relation to changes in laboratory-based measurements of balance such as postural sway and their changes with neck pain or neck manipulation. [2, 3] Instead, we focus primarily on clinical research data. A non-systematic method using Pubmed searches was used to source the available literature on the subject. No language restrictions were applied. Care was taken to guard against inclusion or exclusion bias.
Falls in the elderly and dizziness
Many elderly patients with chronic neck pain and concomitant non-specific dizziness or unsteadiness consult chiropractors and other practitioners who perform spinal manipulative therapy (SMT). It has also been shown that at least the elderly patients who present to chiropractors in Auckland New Zealand and Melbourne Australia have risk factors for falls, including dizziness, that are comparable to the community dwelling elderly in general. [4] However, the possible therapeutic effect of the primary modality of chiropractic treatment, namely SMT, for non-specific dizziness and prevention of falls in the elderly is yet to be adequately investigated. It is well established that falls in the elderly constitute an important global health problem. Every year in the US [5] and Australia [6], approximately one in three elderly people fall, with 10-20% experiencing serious injury including fractures [7]. Similarly, a large population study has found the incidence of falls over a twelve month-period in Canadian elderly to be as high as 19.8%. [8] Falls in the elderly are associated with increased morbidity, disability, loss of independence and even death. Hence, they constitute a serious health problem with substantial human costs. [9, 10] They account for 75% of all casualty visits in the elderly, and result in significant hospital stays. [9] The frequency of falls in the elderly increases sharply with age [11], making this health problem particularly significant in aging populations of the industrialised world. These falls also result in substantial economic costs to the individuals concerned and the health care system, with the estimated cost per fall between $2,000 to $42,000 [12] and the total economic burden for falls $23.3 billion in the USA, with comparable substantial costs in the UK [13] and Canada [8]. In addition, falls in the elderly are an increasingly important global health problem. As the size of the elderly population grew in Australia, the annual direct health costs of fall-related injuries are estimated to almost triple in five decades from $498.2 million in 2001. [14]
Dizziness, which predisposes the elderly to falls [4, 15-17], is also very common in the elderly population. For instance, a study from Scotland found the point prevalence for dizziness to be 30% in 893 elderly people [18], and the comparable proportion in Brazil has been reported as high as 45% in a cohort of 391 community dwelling elderly adults [19]. Moreover, the proportion of those above the age of 70 presenting with non-specific dizziness was recently reported as 63% in South Korea. [20] Moreover, dizziness becomes more prevalent with age. [21] There is a strong association between dizziness and falls in the elderly. [15, 22, 23] A recent systematic review has also confirmed dizziness as a risk factor for falls in the elderly. [23] In short, falls, falls-related injuries, and dizziness are common and closely associated in the elderly.
The Neck, Postural Balance and Dizziness
Vestibular disorders are widely believed to constitute the most common cause of dizziness. However, there is evidence in the primary care setting that cardiovascular disease and related medications may be the most common cause in the elderly. [24] Consistent with this notion, vestibular disorders have been found to be much less prevalent in the general population than the symptoms of vertigo dizziness and unsteadiness. [16] It is generally accepted that the second most common cause of dizziness in the elderly (after benign positional paroxysmal vertigo) is what is termed “multisensory dizziness”. [25, 26] This condition is attributed to aging and deterioration of multiple sensory systems, namely the vestibular, optic and proprioceptive. The prevalence of dizziness in the elderly that can be attributed to pain and dysfunction of the cervical spine (cervicogenic dizziness) is not known. At least some patients diagnosed with multisensory dizziness may suffer from cervicogenic dizziness. For this reason, this review focuses on ‘non-specific’ rather than ‘cervicogenic’ dizziness.
It is established that somatic afferent information from the neck, particularly the upper cervical spine, converges with vestibular and visual inputs on central nervous system (CNS) nuclei involved in processing and integration of postural balance inputs. For instance, Hikosaka and Maeda demonstrated that somatic sensory information for upper cervical spine is relayed to motorneurons in the abducens nucleus modulating the vestibulo-ocular reflex that causes abduction of the eye to the contralateral side of head rotation to allow for fixed gaze. [27] Conversely, Corneil and colleagues showed that cervical spine muscles respond to stimulation of the superior colliculus [28], which is a primary CNS centre for processing of visual information. Furthermore, Shinoda and colleagues showed that stimulation of the semicircular canals in the inner ear is relayed to cervical motorneurons. [29] Finally, Peterson and co-workers demonstrated that the vestibulocollic and the cervicocollic reflexes interact and produce a summative effect on muscle activation in the neck. [30] Taken together these data convincingly demonstrate integration of vestibular, visual and proprioceptive (particularly from the neck) inputs to maintain postural balance. Given this integration, it is probable that abnormal cervical proprioceptive input to the CNS (as a result of injury, pain, or musculoskeletal dysfunction of the neck) may create a mismatch with the other inputs thereby causing dizziness. [31-33] This can be particularly so in the context of the elderly who suffer deterioration of multiple sensory systems.
In agreement with this premise, a recent study has found greater levels of sensorimotor dysfunction (particularly in terms of joint position error in the neck) in association with upper cervical pain than lower cervical pain [34] correlating with the higher density of proprioceptors in the upper cervical region. We also know that anaesthetising the deep structures of the neck, or unilateral sectioning of the cervical dorsal roots induce severe ataxia and disturbance of balance. [31, 35] Equally importantly, stimulation of the abundant neck muscle spindle afferents [36], by the use of vibration, increases body sway [37, 38], and influences the velocity and direction of gait and running [39, 40]. Additionally, there is evidence that the elderly may be more reliant on proprioceptive input for maintenance of postural balance than younger people. [41] For instance, afferent input from the legs is important for postural control in healthy elderly people. [42] Furthermore, the elderly with polyneuropathy suffer from a higher risk of falls. [43] In addition, the inability to stand in tandem stance is associated with double the risk of falls in the elderly. [44] These data together demonstrate the importance of proprioception to postural balance, particularly in the elderly. They also support the notion that neck pain and/or disturbed proprioception may contribute, or act as a predisposing factor, to dizziness and falls.
Neck pain and dizziness
Neck pain is common in the general population. Cote and colleagues demonstrated in a large population study in 1997 that the point prevalence of neck pain in Saskatchewan adults was 22.2%. [45] This study also reported six month prevalence of: low intensity and low disability neck pain; high intensity low disability neck pain; and high intensity and moderately or severely disabling neck pain were found to be 39.7%, 10.1%, and 4.6% respectively. [45] In addition, neck pain is common in the elderly. Its prevalence has been estimated at 36.1% and 40.5% for men and women respectively in community dwelling elderly people in Australia. [46]
Musculoskeletal problems of the neck can cause disturbance of balance, which is termed “cervicogenic dizziness” “cervical dizziness” or “cervical vertigo”. [47-50] Patients who have suffered whiplash neck injuries as a result of motor vehicle accidents often complain of dizziness and exhibit motor co-ordination deficits. [51, 52] Persistent neck pain following whiplash injury has also been recently associated, in a small cohort, with impairments of a variety of dynamic and functional balance tasks such as a timed 10m walk. [53] These signs and symptoms are not surprising, due to the stretch and sheer forces involved in whiplash injury, which can damage vestibular and neck receptors. Furthermore, in cases of whiplash that warrant the diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (or concussion), it may be the damage to the brain itself that causes the common post-injury symptom of dizziness. [54] Nevertheless, it is important to note that dizziness balance deficits and joint position errors are also common in patients with non-traumatic neck pain. [33, 51, 55-62] It is likely then that pain originating from the neck may in itself be responsible for, or at least associated with, dizziness in these cases.
Not surprisingly, in a recent secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of 516 randomly selected community dwelling elderly participants (aged 73-92 years old), risk factors associated with dizziness were correlated with risk of falls over a 12 month period. In this study, 42% of the participants reported dizziness in general. [63] Interestingly, self-reported neck or back pain was far more common in those reporting dizziness with a high degree of statistical significance. As expected, participants with dizziness, anxiety, depression and history of transient ischemic attacks were more likely to experience multiple falls (more than 2 falls). However, the strongest predictors of multiple falls were found to be neck and back pain as well as anxiety in this population. [63] Therefore, there may be a strong causal relationship between neck pain, dizziness, and multiple falls in at least a subpopulation of the elderly.
There are reports, in neck pain patients, of a correlation between cervical joint stiffness and hypertonicity of the upper cervical musculature on one hand, and the presence of dizziness on the other. [64, 65] A recent study has found that in middle-aged chronic neck pain patients, the presence of vertigo is highly correlated with neck stiffness. [66] In addition, fatigue of the neck muscles disturbs standing balance. [32, 60] Additionally, neck tenderness is associated with cervical vertigo in the elderly. [48] Taken together these data suggest that neck pain, and associated joint stiffness and muscular hypertonicity and tenderness, may cause postural imbalance possibly by altering the proprioceptive input to the CNS, or its processing by the CNS, leading to dizziness. This in turn, could predispose the individual, particularly the elderly, to falls.
Spinal Manipulative Therapy for Mechanical Neck Pain
SMT, including joint manipulation and mobilisation, has been used clinically for neck pain by chiropractors and other health care practitioners for many years. Several studies have shown that SMT and spinal exercise regimes are significantly more effective than usual medical care in reducing neck pain. [67, 68] A recent systematic review has found high quality evidence for greater short term pain relief with manual therapy and exercise over exercise alone. [69] The same review also found evidence, although of low quality, for clinically important long term improvement in pain and functional status with manual therapy and exercise compared to no treatment. [69] Similarly, Maiers and colleagues have recently reported shortterm effectiveness of SMT in the elderly. Theirs was the first randomised controlled trial (RCT) of cervical SMT in community dwelling elderly comparing its effectiveness for chronic mechanical neck pain with home and supervised exercises using 241 participants. [70] They found that the SMT and home exercise group had a statistically significant reduction in pain at the conclusion of the treatment period compared to either the home exercise alone or home exercise and supervised exercise groups, even though this effect was not sustained at 40- or even 14-weeks follow-up.
In a 2010 Cochrane systematic review of 27 RCTs, Gross and colleagues found low quality evidence for the benefits of manipulation and mobilisation compared to control for short-term neck pain reduction. [71] In another 2010 systematic review of manual therapy for neck pain, D’Sylva and colleagues reported low quality evidence suggesting a clinically significant improvement in pain relief, improved function and global perceived effect when manipulation and mobilisation were combined with massage. Once again, poor methodological quality of the studies and inadequate control for bias prevented a more conclusive assessment of the potential of SMT to treat neck pain. It is important to realise that compared to drug trials, rigorous RCTs of SMT are more challenging to design and the choice of control intervention is particularly problematic due to the hands-on nature of manual therapy. It is not possible to blind the clinician with respect to the treatment delivered, and it is difficult to blind the participant. Control interventions for SMT that have been used to date often are other physical treatment modalities, such as mobilisation, or exercise therapy. Given that mobilisation, exercise and similar “control” interventions are likely to exert a therapeutic effect on the neck, the search for a more inert control for these studies needs to continue. Using a truly inert control may demonstrate greater therapeutic effect for SMT in treating neck pain. Efforts are currently underway to develop such a control. [72, 73] Nevertheless, SMT has shown at least short-term effectiveness in treating neck pain. It has also been found to be a relatively safe intervention [74, 75] particularly in the elderly [76].
Spinal manipulative therapy for non-specific dizziness
Usual treatment of non-specific dizziness in the elderly comprises mainly of vestibular rehabilitation. [41, 77, 78] According to a recent Cochrane systematic review, there is moderate evidence to support the use of vestibular rehabilitation for vertigo and dizziness of vestibular origin, such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and Ménière’s disease. [79] However, non-specific dizziness is a diagnosis by exclusion, and it has no established satisfactory treatment at present. [20] In the elderly, patients with non-specific dizziness are often diagnosed with multisensory dizziness or presbyastasis (age related decreased vestibular function) and are often inadequately treated. Nonetheless, their treatment often involves vestibular manoeuvres and vestibular rehabilitation exercises. [80] Vestibular rehabilitation has been found to provide some relief for non-specific dizziness, alone and in combination with other therapies. For instance, vestibular rehabilitation neck exercises alone have been shown to be moderately effective for non-specific dizziness in a retrospective study of 153 elderly cases. [20] Furthermore, Andersson’s group conducted two small RCTs, with dizziness due to a range of aetiologies, of vestibular rehabilitation combined with cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) compared to a waiting list control. [81, 82]
These studies showed significant improvement with dizziness using provocative head movements, but no improvement in depression, anxiety or stress. Although, results from these studies are limited by small sample sizes and variability in treatment protocols, they do show promise for the use of neck rehabilitation exercises in treatment of non-specific dizziness, particularly in the elderly population. However, while these studies have aimed their treatment at rehabilitation of the vestibular system, the role of proprioceptive input from the coupling movements of the neck joints during these movements cannot be discounted. Therefore, focused modulation or rehabilitation of proprioceptive input from the neck in non-specific dizziness, is an area deserving of concerted research attention.
There is, in fact, a growing body of preliminary evidence for physical and manual treatment of the neck for non-specific dizziness. A course of individualised physiotherapy including massage and cervical and thoracic joint mobilisation has been reported to improve dizziness in a cohort of 20 neck pain patients. [64] Matsui and co-workers have recently reported that a course of primarily conservative physical therapy, was able to substantially reduce dizziness in neck pain patients. [65] A recent feasibility study has also reported significant improvement in dizziness handicap inventory (DHI) scores with Osteopathic SMT in 16 adults with chronic vertigo. [83] Similarly, improvement in DHI scores has been reported in a small group of elders in a recent pragmatic single group pre-test/posttest chiropractic intervention study. [84] In addition, a pilot randomised study of chiropractic care, including SMT, by the same group has reported improvement in both pain and DHI scores in the elderly. [85]
These observations are consistent with anecdotal evidence from practitioners of SMT that some patients presenting with neck pain also report an improvement with their sense of balance. There are a number of clinical studies including five RCTs on the efficacy of manual therapy for cervicogenic dizziness. [57, 64, 88, 89, 96, 97] However, two systematic reviews have concluded that there is limited to moderate evidence for the use of manual therapies, particularly cervical manipulation and mobilisation, in the management of this condition. [86, 87] These two systematic reviews analysed five RCTs and 14 non-randomised controlled trials or cohort studies. [57, 64, 88-106] The overall quality of these data was found to be moderate to low due to lack of control groups, and inadequate blinding and randomisation. In spite of these limitations, symptomatic improvement in dizziness was consistently reported. Treatments included mobilisation and or manipulation alone [88-94] and in combination with other therapies such as acupuncture [95], massage [57, 64, 96-103], traction [99, 104], ergonomic advice [57, 64, 105], anti-inflammatory medications [95, 98, 105], and home exercises [57, 64, 98, 106]. These data show promising preliminary evidence that warrants rigorous research in this area.
Conclusion
At present there is no satisfactory treatment for non-specific or age related dizziness. However, there is preliminary evidence that physical treatment of the neck may improve balance in neck pain patients. Therefore, it is important to examine the possible therapeutic effect of chiropractic interventions (particularly SMT) directed at the neck in treatment of this condition and prevention of falls in this subpopulation of the elderly. The need for this research is particularly acute given the substantial health and economic costs of falls in the elderly and the aging of the population in the industrialised world. We know that postural stability and motor control relies on integration of proprioceptive vestibular and visual inputs by the CNS, inputs that are widely believed to deteriorate with age. Neck pain is widely believed to be capable of compromising mechanisms of postural balance by distorting the proprioceptive input from the neck to the CNS. It is possible that integration of incongruous inputs by CNS balance centres becomes more challenging as proprioceptive visual and vestibular sensory mechanisms age. Whilst neck manipulation, a commonly practiced treatment by chiropractors, has shown effectiveness for neck pain, it has not been adequately evaluated for non-specific dizziness. However, there is encouraging preliminary data that seems to support the use of neck manipulation in treating this condition. Given that both spinal pain and dizziness are risk factors for balance deficits and falls in the elderly, rigorously designed randomised controlled trials are needed in this area. These trials should focus on both efficacy and effectiveness of the various chiropractic neck manipulation and mobilisation techniques and strategies on: neck pain; non-specific dizziness; dizziness-related disability; and falls frequency in the community dwelling elderly population.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the assistance of Stephanie Willis with the initial version of this manuscript.
REFERENCES:
Dros J, Maarsingh OR, van der Windt DA, Oort FJ, ter Riet G, de Rooij SE, et al.
Profiling dizziness in older primary care patients: an empirical study.
PloS one. 2011;6(1):e16481Ruhe A, Fejer R, Walker B.
Does postural sway change in association with manual therapeutic interventions? A review of the literature.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies. 2013;21(1):9Ruhe A, Fejer R, Walker B.
On the relationship between pain intensity and postural sway in patients with non-specific neck pain.
J Back Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. 2013 Jan 1;26(4):401-9Holt KR, Noone PL, Short K, Elley CR, Haavik H.
Fall risk profile and quality-of-life status of older chiropractic patients.
J Manip Physiol Ther. 2011 Feb;34(2):78-87Alexander BH, Rivara FP, Wolf ME.
The cost and frequency of hospitalization for fall-related injuries in older adults.
Am J Public Health. 1992 Jul;82(7):1020-3Pointer S, Harrison J, Bradley C.
National injury prevention plan. Priorities for 2004 and beyond: Discussion paper.
Injury Research and Statistics Series. 2003 July;18Kruschinski C, Sheehy O, Hummers-Pradier E, Lelorier J.
Fracture risk of patients suffering from dizziness: a retrospective cohort study.
Euro J General Practice. 2010 Dec;16(4):229-35.Sibley KM, Voth J, Munce SE, Straus SE, Jaglal SB.
Chronic disease and falls in community-dwelling Canadians over 65 years old: a population-based study exploring
associations with number and pattern of chronic conditions.
BMC Geriatrics. 2014;14:22Campbell AJ, Borrie MJ, Spears GF, Jackson SL, Brown JS, Fitzgerald JL.
Circumstances and consequences of falls experienced by a community population 70 years and over during a prospective study.
Age and Ageing. 1990 Mar;19(2):136-41Cripps R, Carman J.
Falls by the elderly in Australia: Trends and data for 1998.
Injury Research and Statistics Series. 2001;6Kirchhoff M, Melin A.
Screening for fall risk in the elderly in the capital region of Copenhagen: the need for fall assessment exceeds the present capacity.
Danish Medical Bulletin. 2011 Oct;58(10):A4324Heinrich S, Rapp K, Rissmann U, Becker C, Konig HH.
Cost of falls in old age: a systematic review.
Osteoporosis International: a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis and the
National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA.
2010 Jun;21(6):891-902Davis JC, Robertson MC, Ashe MC, Liu-Ambrose T, Khan KM, Marra CA.
International comparison of cost of falls in older adults living in the community: a systematic review.
Osteoporosis International: a journal established as result of cooperation between the European Foundation for Osteoporosis
and the National Osteoporosis Foundation of the USA.
2010 Aug;21(8):1295-306Moller J.
Projected costs of fall related injury to older persons due to demographic change in Australia.
Report to Commonwealth Department of Health and Aging. 2003 JulyTinetti ME, Williams CS, Gill TM.
Health, functional, and psychological outcomes among older persons with chronic dizziness.
J Am Geriatrics Society. 2000 Apr;48(4):417-21Bisdorff A, Bosser G, Gueguen R, Perrin P.
The epidemiology of vertigo, dizziness, and unsteadiness and its links to co-morbidities.
Frontiers in Neurology. 2013;4:29. PubMed PMID: 23526567Kerber KA, Enrietto JA, Jacobson KM, Baloh RW.
Disequilibrium in older people: a prospective study.
Neurology. 1998 Aug;51(2):574-80Colledge NR, Wilson JA, Macintyre CC, MacLennan WJ.
The prevalence and characteristics of dizziness in an elderly community.
Age and Ageing. 1994 Mar;23(2):117-20de Moraes SA, Soares WJ, Ferriolli E, Perracini MR.
Prevalence and correlates of dizziness in community dwelling older people: a cross sectional population based study.
BMC Geriatrics. 2013;13:4Jung JY, Kim JS, Chung PS, Woo SH, Rhee CK.
Effect of vestibular rehabilitation on dizziness in the elderly.
Am J Otolaryngology. 2009 Sep-Oct;30(5):295-9Jonsson R, Sixt E, Landahl S, Rosenhall U.
Prevalence of dizziness and vertigo in an urban elderly population.
J Vestibular Res: equilibrium & orientation. 2004;14(1):47-52Perez-Jara J, Olmos P, Abad MA, Heslop P, Walker D, Reyes-Ortiz CA.
Differences in fear of falling in the elderly with or without dizzines.
Maturitas. 2012 Nov;73(3):261-4Deandrea S, Lucenteforte E, Bravi F, Foschi R, La Vecchia C, Negri E.
Risk factors for falls in community-dwelling older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass). 2010 Sep;21(5):658-68Maarsingh OR, Dros J, Schellevis FG, van Weert HC, van der Windt DA, ter Riet G, et al.
Causes of persistent dizziness in elderly patients in primary care.
Annals Family Med. 2010 May-Jun;8(3):196-205Kao AC, Nanda A, Williams CS, Tinetti ME.
Validation of dizziness as a possible geriatric syndrome.
J Am Geriatrics Society. 2001 Jan;49(1):72-5Wetmore SJ, Eibling DE, Goebel JA, Gottshall KR, Hoffer ME, Magnusson M, et al.
Challenges and opportunities in managing the dizzy older adult.
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery: official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-
Head and Neck Surgery. 2011 May;144(5):651-6Hikosaka O, Maeda M.
Cervical effects on abducens motoneurons and their interaction with vestibulo-ocular reflex.
Experimental Brain Research Experimentelle Hirnforschung Experimentation Cerebrale.
1973 Dec 20;18(5):512-30Corneil BD, Olivier E, Munoz DP.
Neck muscle responses to stimulation of monkey superior colliculus. I. Topography and manipulation of stimulation parameters.
J Neurophysiology. 2002 Oct;88(4):1980-99Shinoda Y, Sugiuchi Y, Futami T, Ando N, Kawasaki T, Yagi J.
Synaptic organization of the vestibulo-collic pathways from six semicircular canals to motoneurons of different neck muscles.
Progress Brain Res. 1993;97:201-9Peterson BW, Bilotto G, Goldberg J, Wilson VJ.
Dynamics of vestibulo-ocular, vestibulocollic, and cervicocollic reflexes.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 1981;374:395-402de Jong PT, de Jong JM, Cohen B, Jongkees LB.
Ataxia and nystagmus induced by injection of local anesthetics in the Neck.
Annals Neurology. 1977 Mar;1(3):240-6Gosselin G, Rassoulian H, Brown I.
Effects of neck extensor muscles fatigue on balance.
Clinical Biomechanics (Bristol, Avon). 2004 Jun;19 (5):473-9Karlberg M, Johansson R, Magnusson M, Fransson PA.
Dizziness of suspected cervical origin distinguished by posturographic assessment of human postural dynamics.
J Vestibular Res: equilibrium & orientation. 1996 Jan-Feb;6(1):37-47Treleaven J, Clamaron-Cheers C, Jull G.
Does the region of pain influence the presence of sensorimotor disturbances in neck pain disorders?
Manual Therapy. 2011 Dec;16(6):636-40Ishikawa K, Matsuzaki Z, Yokomizo M, Terada N, Miyazaki S, Togawa K.
Effect of unilateral section of cervical afferent nerve upon optokinetic response and vestibular nystagmus induced by
sinusoidal rotation in guinea pigs.
Acta oto-laryngologica Supplementum. 1998;537:6-10Boyd-Clark LC, Briggs CA, Galea MP.
Muscle spindle distribution, morphology, and density in longus colli and multifidus muscles of the cervical spine.
Spine. 2002 Apr 1;27(7):694-701Kavounoudias A, Gilhodes JC, Roll R, Roll JP.
From balance regulation to body orientation: two goals for muscle proprioceptive information processing? Experimental Brain
Res Experimentelle Hirnforschung Experimentation Cerebrale. 1999 Jan;124(1):80-8Pyykko I, Aalto H, Seidel H, Starck J.
Hierarchy of different muscles in postural control. Acta otolaryngologica
Supplementum. 1989;468:175-80Bove M, Courtine G, Schieppati M.
Neck muscle vibration and spatial orientation during stepping in place in humans.
J Neurophysiology. 2002 Nov;88(5):2232-41Courtine G, Papaxanthis C, Laroche D, Pozzo T.
Gaitdependent integration of neck muscle afferent input.
Neuroreport. 2003 Dec 19;14(18):2365-8Ricci NA, de Faria Figueiredo Goncalves D, Coimbra AM, Coimbra IB.
Sensory interaction on static balance: a comparison concerning the history of falls of community-dwelling elderly.
Geriatrics & Gerontology International. 2009 Jun;9(2):165-71Kristinsdottir EK, Fransson PA, Magnusson M.
Changes in postural control in healthy elderly subjects are related to vibration sensation, vision and vestibular asymmetry.
Acta oto-laryngologica. 2001 Sep;121(6):700-6Richardson JK.
Factors associated with falls in older patients with diffuse polyneuropathy.
J Am Geriatrics Society. 2002 Nov;50(11):1767-73Hansson EE, Mansson NO, Ringsberg KA, Hakansson A.
Falls among dizzy patients in primary healthcare: an intervention study with control group.
International J Rehabil Res Internationale Zeitschrift fur Rehabilitationsforschung Revue internationale de recherches de readaptation.
2008 Mar;31(1):51-7Cote P, Cassidy JD, Carroll L.
The Saskatchewan Health and Back Pain Survey.
The Prevalence of Neck Pain and Related Disability in Saskatchewan Adults
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 1998 (Aug 1); 23 (15): 1689–1698March LM, Brnabic AJ, Skinner JC, Schwarz JM, Finnegan T, Druce J, et al.
Musculoskeletal disability among elderly people in the community.
The Medical J Austr. 1998 May 4;168(9):439-42Yacovino DA.
Cervical Vertigo: Myths, Facts, and Scientific Evidence
Neurologia (Barcelona, Spain). 2012 Sep 13Morinaka S.
Musculoskeletal diseases as a causal factor of cervical vertigo.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx. 2009 Dec;36(6):649-54Michels T, Lehmann N, Moebus S.
Cervical vertigo – cervical pain: an alternative and efficient treatment.
J Alternative and Complementary Med (New York, NY). 2007 Jun;13(5):513-8Kristjansson E, Treleaven J.
Sensorimotor Function and Dizziness in Neck Pain: Implications for Assessment and Management
J Orthopaedic Sports Physical Therapy 2009 (May); 39 (5): 364–377Sjolander P, Michaelson P, Jaric S, Djupsjobacka M.
Sensorimotor disturbances in chronic neck pain – range of motion, peak velocity, smoothness of movement, and repositioning acuity.
Manual Therapy. 2008 May;13(2):122-31Hinoki M.
Vertigo due to whiplash injury: a neurotological approach.
Acta oto-laryngologica Supplementum. 1984;419:9-29Stokell R, Yu A, Williams K, Treleaven J.
Dynamic and functional balance tasks in subjects with persistent whiplash: a pilot trial.
Manual Therapy. 2011 Aug;16(4):394-8Hartvigsen, J., Boyle, E., Cassidy, J.D., and Carroll, L.J.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury After Motor Vehicle Collisions: What Are the Symptoms and Who Treats Them?
A Population-Based 1-Year Inception Cohort Study
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014 (Mar); 95 (3 Suppl): S286–294Michaelson P, Michaelson M, Jaric S, Latash ML, Sjolander P, Djupsjobacka M.
Vertical posture and head stability in patients with chronic neck pain.
J Rehabil Med: official journal of the UEMS European Board of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. 2003 Sep;35(5):229-35Karlberg M, Persson L, Magnusson M.
Impaired postural control in patients with cervico-brachial pain.
Acta otolaryngologica Supplementum. 1995;520 Pt 2:440-2Karlberg M, Magnusson M, Malmstrom EM, Melander A, Moritz U.
Postural and symptomatic improvement after physiotherapy in patients with dizziness of suspected cervical origin.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1996 Sep;77(9):874-82Koskimies K, Sutinen P, Aalto H, Starck J, Toppila E, Hirvonen T, et al.
Postural stability, neck proprioception and tension neck.
Acta oto-laryngologica Supplementum. 1997;529:95-7McPartland JM, Brodeur RR, Hallgren RC.
Chronic neck pain, standing balance, and suboccipital muscle atrophy – a pilot study.
J Manip Physiol Thera. 1997 Jan;20(1):24-9Schieppati M, Nardone A, Schmid M.
Neck muscle fatigue affects postural control in man.
Neuroscience. 2003;121(2):277-85Sjostrom H, Allum JH, Carpenter MG, Adkin AL, Honegger F, Ettlin T.
Trunk sway measures of postural stability during clinical balance tests in patients with chronic whiplash injury symptoms.
Spine. 2003 Aug 1;28(15):1725-34Field S, Treleaven J, Jull G.
Standing balance: a comparison between idiopathic and whiplash-induced neck pain.
Manual Therapy. 2008 Jun;13(3):183-91Menant JC, Wong A, Sturnieks DL, Close JC, Delbaere K, Sachdev PS, et al.
Pain and anxiety mediate the relationship between dizziness and falls in older people.
J Am Geriatrics Society. 2013 Mar;61(3):423-8Malmstrom EM, Karlberg M, Melander A, Magnusson M, Moritz U.
Cervicogenic dizziness – musculoskeletal findings before and after treatment and long-term outcome.
Disability and Rehabilitation. 2007 Aug 15;29(15):1193-205Matsui T, Ii K, Hojo S, Sano K.
Cervical neuro-muscular syndrome: discovery of a new disease group caused by abnormalities in the cervical muscles.
Neurologia medico-chirurgica. 2012;52(2):75-80Yahia A, Ghroubi S, Jribi S, Malla J, Baklouti S, Ghorbel A, et al.
Chronic neck pain and vertigo: Is a true balance disorder present?
Annals Phys Rehabil Med. 2009 Sep-Oct;52(7-8):556-67Bronfort G, Evans R, Nelson B, Aker P, Goldsmith C, Vernon H:
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Exercise and Spinal Manipulation
for Patients with Chronic Neck Pain
Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2001 (Apr 1); 26 (7): 788–797Harkness EF, Macfarlane GJ, Silman AJ, McBeth J.
Is musculoskeletal pain more common now than 40 years ago?: Two population-based cross-sectional studies.
Rheumatology (Oxford, England). 2005 Jul;44(7):890-5Miller J, Gross A, D'Sylva J, et al.
Manual Therapy and Exercise for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review
Man Ther. 2010 (Aug); 15 (4): 334–354Maiers M, Bronfort G, Evans R, Hartvigsen J, Svendsen K, Bracha Y, et al.
Spinal Manipulative Therapy and Exercise For Seniors with Chronic Neck Pain
Spine J. 2014 (Sep 1); 14 (9): 1879–1889Gross A, Miller J, D’Sylva J, Burnie S, Goldsmith G, Graham N et al..
Manipulation or Mobilisation For Neck Pain: A Cochrane Review
Manual Therapy 2010 (Aug); 15 (4): 315–333Walker, BF, Hebert, JJ, Stomski, NJ et al.
Outcomes of Usual Chiropractic.
The OUCH Randomized Controlled Trial of Adverse Events
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2013 (Sep 15); 38 (20): 1723–1729Vernon H, Triano JT, Soave D, Dinulos M, Ross K, Tran S.
Retention of blinding at follow-up in a randomized clinical study using a sham-control cervical manipulation procedure for neck pain:
secondary analyses from a randomized clinical study.
J Manip Physiol Thera. 2013 Oct;36(8):522-6Gouveia LO, Castanho P, Ferreira JJ.
Safety of chiropractic interventions: a systematic review.
Spine. 2009 May 15;34(11):E405-13Thiel HW, Bolton JE, Docherty S, Portlock JC:
Safety of Chiropractic Manipulation of the Cervical Spine: A Prospective National Survey
Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2007 (Oct 1); 32 (21): 2375–2378Rothwell DM, Bondy SJ, Williams JI.
Chiropractic Manipulation and Stroke:
A Population-based Case-control Study
Stroke 2001 (May); 32 (5): 1054-1060Belal A, Jr., Glorig A.
Dysequilibrium of ageing (presbyastasis).
J Laryngology and Otology. 1986 Sep;100(9):1037-41Cohen HS, Kimball KT.
Increased independence and decreased vertigo after vestibular rehabilitation.
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery: official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2003 Jan;128(1):60-70Hillier SL, McDonnell M.
Vestibular rehabilitation for unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction.
Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Online). 2011 (2):CD005397Yardley L, Burgneay J, Andersson G, Owen N, Nazareth I, Luxon L.
Feasibility and effectiveness of providing vestibular rehabilitation for dizzy patients in the community.
Clinical Otolaryngology and Allied Sciences. 1998 Oct;23(5):442-8Andersson G, Asmundson GJ, Denev J, Nilsson J, Larsen HC.
A controlled trial of cognitive-behavior therapy combined with vestibular rehabilitation in the treatment of dizziness.
Behaviour Research and Therapy. 2006 Sep;44(9):1265-73Johansson M, Akerlund D, Larsen HC, Andersson G.
Randomized controlled trial of vestibular rehabilitation combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy for dizziness in older people.
Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery: official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2001 Sep;125(3):151-6Fraix M.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment and vertigo: a pilot study.
PM & R: the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation. 2010 Jul;2(7):612-8Hawk C, Cambron J.
Chiropractic Care for Older Adults:
Effects on Balance, Dizziness, and Chronic Pain
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 (Jul); 32 (6): 431–437Hawk C, Cambron JA, Pfefer MT.
Pilot Study of the Effect of a Limited and Extended Course of Chiropractic Care
on Balance, Chronic Pain, and Dizziness in Older Adults
J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 (Jul); 32(6): 438–447Reid SA, Rivett DA.
Manual Therapy Treatment of Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Systematic Review
Manual Therapy. 2005 (Feb); 10 (1): 4–13Lystad RP, Bell G, Bonnevie-Svendsen M, Carter CV.
Manual Therapy With and Without Vestibular Rehabilitation for Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Systematic Review
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies 2011 (Sep 18);19(1):21Reid SA, Rivett DA, Katekar MG, Callister R.
Sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAGs) are an effective treatment for cervicogenic dizziness.
Manual Therapy. 2008 Aug;13(4):357-66Kang F, Wang QC, Ye YG.
[A randomized controlled trial of rotatory reduction manipulation and acupoint massage in the treatment of younger cervical vertigo].
Zhongguo gu shang = China J Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2008 Apr;21(4):270-2Konrad K, Gerencser F.
Manuelle Therapie Bei Schwindelpatienten.
Manuelle Medizin. 1990;28(4):62-4Mahlstedt K, Westhofen M, Konig K.
[Therapy of functional disorders of the craniovertebral joints in vestibular diseases].
Laryngo-rhino-otologie. 1992 May;71(5):246-50Chen L, Zhan HS.
[An transcranial Doppler ultrasonography and X-ray study of cervical vertigo patients treated by manipulation in supine position].
Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = J Chinese Integrative Medicine. 2003 Nov;1(4):262-4Zhou W, Jiang W, Li X, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Wu Z.
Clinical study on manipulative treatment of derangement of the atlantoaxial joint.
Journal Traditional Chinese Medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan /
sponsored by All-China Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine. 1999 Dec;19(4):273-8Galm R, Rittmeister M, Schmitt E.
Vertigo in patients with cervical spine dysfunction.
European Spine J: official publication of the European Spine Society,
the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section
of the Cervical Spine Research Society.
1998;7(1):55-8Heikkila H, Johansson M, Wenngren BI.
Effects of acupuncture, cervical manipulation and NSAID therapy on dizziness and impaired head repositioning of suspected
cervical origin: a pilot study.
Manual Therapy. 2000 Aug;5(3):151-7Fang J.
[Observation of curative effect on fixed-point spin reduction of spinal manipulation therapy for cervical vertigo].
Zhongguo gu shang = China J Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2010 Feb;23(2):99-101Du HG, Wei H, Huang MZ, Jiang Z, Ye SL, Song HQ, et al.
[Randomized controlled trial on manipulation for the treatment of cervical vertigo of high flow velocity type].
Zhongguo gu shang = China J Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 2010 Mar;23(3):212-5Bracher ES, Almeida CI, Almeida RR, Duprat AC, Bracher CB.
A combined approach for the treatment of cervical vertigo.
J Manipul Physiol Thera. 2000 Feb;23(2):96-100Hülse M, Hölzl M.
Vestibulospinale reaktionen bei der zervikogenen gleichgewichtsstorung: Die zervikogene unsicherheit.
Hno. 2000;48(4):295-301Wu JR, Fang M, Hu J, Shen GQ, Jiang SY.
[Effects of manipulation on head repositioning skill in patients with cervical vertigo].
Zhong xi yi jie he xue bao = J Chinese Integrative Medicine. 2006 Jan;4(1):76-8Wu JR, Fang M, Hu J, Shen GQ, Jiang SY.
Action of tuina on retro-positioning of skull spatial offset in patients with cervical vertigo.
J Acupuncture and Tuina Science. 2008;6(2):83-6Strunk RG, Hawk C.
Effects of Chiropractic Care on Dizziness, Neck Pain, and Balance:
A Single-group, Preexperimental, Feasibility Study
Journal of Chiropractic Medicine 2009 (Dec); 8 (4): 156–164Biesinger E.
C2 and C3 cervical nerve root syndrome: The influence of cervical spine dysfunction on ENT symptoms.
[German] Das C2/C3-Syndrom: Der Einfluss zervikaler Afferenzen auf HNO-arztliche Krankheitsbilder.
Manuelle Medizin. 1997;35(1):12-9Uhlemann C, Gramowski KH, Endres U, Callies R.
Manual diagnosis and therapy in cervical giddiness.
Manuelle Diagnostik und Therapie Beim Halsbedingten Schwindel. 1993 //;31(4):77-81Wing LW, Hargrave Wilson W.
Cervical vertigo.
Australian and New Zealand J Surg. 1974;44(3):275-7Reid SA, Rivett DA, Katekar MG, Callister R.
Comparison of mulligan sustained natural apophyseal glides and maitland mobilizations for treatment of cervicogenic dizziness:a randomized controlled trial.
Physical Therapy. 2014 Apr;94(4):466-76
Return to CHRONIC NECK PAIN
Return to VERTIGO and BALANCE
Since 3-03-2015
| Home Page | Visit Our Sponsors | Become a Sponsor |
Please read our DISCLAIMER |