When the Room Spins: Restoring Balance with Upper Cervical Adjustments

If you’ve ever felt the unsettling sensation that the room is spinning—while you’re standing still—you know how debilitating vertigo can be. It's not just dizziness. It can disrupt your ability to walk, drive, work, or even get out of bed. And for some, it’s not a one-time episode but a recurring condition that causes anxiety, fear of falling, and deep frustration.

While vertigo can have several causes, there’s one that often flies under the radar: misalignment in the upper cervical spine. At Demuth Spinal Care & Concussion Center, we see many patients who’ve gone through extensive testing, medications, and referrals with no lasting solution—until they address the top of their spine.

Here’s why your neck might be the missing link in restoring your sense of balance.

What’s Really Happening When You Experience Vertigo?

Vertigo is typically a symptom—not a standalone diagnosis. It refers to a false sense of motion, often described as spinning, swaying, or tilting. You might also experience:

• Nausea or vomiting

• A sense of unsteadiness

• Blurred vision

• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)

• Difficulty concentrating or fatigue

The key system at play here is your vestibular system, which helps control balance and spatial orientation. It includes structures in your inner ear, as well as neurological input from your eyes, joints, and spine—especially the upper cervical spine, where movement and position sensors send constant updates to your brain.

When something interrupts that communication, your brain receives mixed signals—leading to disorientation and that unsettling sensation that the world is spinning.

The Upper Cervical Connection to Vertigo

The top two vertebrae in your spine, the atlas (C1) and axis (C2), play a central role in keeping your head level and your body balanced. These vertebrae sit just beneath the skull and surround the brainstem, which processes a huge amount of information related to balance, posture, and muscle coordination.

Even a small misalignment in this area can:

• Distort nerve signals traveling between the body and brain

• Affect blood flow to the inner ear and cerebellum

• Alter muscle tone and proprioception in the neck and shoulders

• Trigger a vestibular mismatch, where your brain receives contradictory signals from different sensory systems

All of this can culminate in vertigo—often without obvious neck pain. That’s why the root cause can be overlooked for months or even years.

How Upper Cervical Adjustments Help Restore Balance

At Demuth Spinal Care, Dr. Amanthi Demuth uses precise diagnostic tools and gentle upper cervical chiropractic adjustments to restore alignment at the craniocervical junction—the area where your head meets your spine.

Here’s how this supports balance and vertigo relief:

✅ Realigns the Head and Neck

Proper alignment helps normalize pressure and function in the vestibular system, including the inner ear and the muscles that help stabilize your gaze and posture.

✅ Improves Brainstem Function

A balanced atlas reduces strain on the brainstem and surrounding nerves, helping regulate the body’s balance signals more accurately.

✅ Restores Proprioception and Postural Awareness

By improving communication between the spine and brain, patients often regain a sense of body awareness and stability, reducing the need to constantly "catch" themselves.

✅ Reduces Muscle Guarding

When alignment improves, muscles in the neck, upper back, and jaw relax, supporting smoother, more stable movement without overcompensation.

Real People. Real Relief.

We’ve worked with patients from across Sartell, Saint Cloud, Saint Stephen, Sauk Rapids, Saint Joseph, Waite Park, Collegeville, Rice, and beyond who had previously given up on finding relief for their vertigo. Some had been told it was “all in their head.” Others had only been offered medications with heavy side effects.

But once we addressed the structure and function of the upper neck, many experienced dramatic improvements—often after just a few visits. When the source of imbalance is corrected, the body naturally finds its footing again.

📞 If vertigo is disrupting your life, don’t wait for another dizzy spell to take control. Call Demuth Spinal Care & Concussion Center to schedule a consultation. We’re here to help you find balance again—gently, naturally, and precisely.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult with a licensed healthcare provider regarding your symptoms and treatment options. Individual results may vary.