Vertigo, or
dizziness, affects millions of people around the world
each year. In a majority of the cases, vertigo is
nothing than a temporary inconvenience. In some cases,
vertigo is a debilitating condition. Day-to-day
activities is kept to a minimum due to the severe
dizziness.
In many
cases, the area of dysfunction in the nervous system is
the cerebellum. The cerebellum is in the posterior
aspect (back part) of the brain and controls our
coordinated movements.
There are
specific tests that the chiropractic neurologist
utilizes to determine cerebellar function. Standing
with your feet together and eyes closed, the test is
positive if the patient sways back and forth. Other
tests include, touching the index finger to the nose
with the eyes closed, walking heel to toe, moving the
fingers rapidly as if playing the piano, or touching all
of your fingers to your thumb as fast as possible.
These tests and others are used to determine the
function of the cerebellum.
Treatment
of the cerebellar dysfunction may include:
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 the
same cerebellum and opposite cerebra cortex
(brain). The thoracic (mid-back) spine will be
globally manipulated to fire the dorsal columns
(back part of the spinal cord) and reduce rib
fixations.
Caloric: A warm water caloric of 180 milliliters
may be administered in the ear to stimulate the
ipsilateral (same side) cerebellum.
Eye
Exercises: Eye exercises may be used to increase
the frequency of firing to the cerebellum and
frontal lobe of the brain.
Heat
Therapy: Heat therapy is used to promote an
increased metabolic and healing rate to the involved
tissue. Increased heat helps increase activation to
the brain. Heat has immediate soothing and
palliative effects as decreased joint stiffness,
decreased muscle spasms and releases histamine and
bradykinin causing vasodilation of the tissues.
One or all
of the procedures
may be employed to restore the cerebellum to its normal
function.
