Cervicogenic Dizziness: A Review of Diagnosis and Treatment

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Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 2000;30(12) :755-766

Cervicogenic Dizziness:

A

Review of

Diagnosis and Treatment

Diane M. Wrisley, MS, P7; NCS1

htrick

J. Sparto, Ph D, PT2

Susan I. Whitney, PhD, P7;

ATC3

Joseph M. Furman, MD, PhD2

The diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is characterized by dizziness and dysequilibrium that is associated with neck pain in patients with cervical pathology. The diagnosis and treatment of an individual presenting with cervical spine dysfunction and associated dizziness complaints can be a challenging experience to orthopaedic and vestibular rehabilitation specialists. The purpose of this article is to review the incidence and prevalence, historical background, and proposed pathophysiology underlying cervicogenic dizziness. In addition, we have outlined the diagnostic criteria, evaluation, and treatment of dizziness attributed to disorders of the cervical spine. The diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is dependent upon correlating symptoms of imbalance and dizziness with neck pain and excluding other vestibular disorders based on history, examination, and vestibular function tests. When diagnosed correctly, cervicogenic dizziness can be successfully treated using a combination of manual therapy and vestibular rehabilitation. We present 2 cases, of patients diagnosed with cervicogenic dizziness, as an illustration of the clinical decision- making process in regard to this diagnosis. ) Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2000;30:755-766. Key Words: cervical vertigo, dysequilibrium, whiplash

he diagnosis and treatment of an individual presenting with cervical spine dysfunction and associated complaints of dizziness can be a challenging experience to orthopaedic and vestibular rehabilitation specialists. The differential diagnosis may include cervicogenic dizziness, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, perilyrnphatic fistula, labyrinthine concussion, migraine-related vertigo, and central or peripheral vestibular dysfunction. The decision to treat the patient o r refer to another healthcare professional is essential to providing appropriate and timely care. Given the potential seriousness of some of the causes of dizziness, physical I Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pitts-

burgh, Pittsburgh, Pd.

Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pd.

I Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, School of

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pd; Center for Rehab Ser- vices, Vestibular Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburgh, Pd.

Send correspondence to: Pdtrick 1. Sparto, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Physical Therapy, 6035 Forbes Tower, Pittsburgh, PA 15260. E-mail: psparto@pitt.edu

therapists must learn how to elicit a thorough history that will provide the information necessary to make decisions about treating the patient o r referring the patient to another health care practitioner.

We borrow the definition of cervicogenic dizziness from Furman and Cassw: "a nonspecific sensation of altered orientation in space and dysequilibrium originat- ing from abnormal afferent activi-

ty from the neck." Cervicogenic dizziness does not result from vestibular dysfunction and, therefore, rarely results in true vertigo.'O Cer- vicogenic dizziness is most often associated with flexion-extension injuries and has been reported in patients with severe cervical arthri- tis, herniated cervical disks, and head tra~ma."J."~ In these patients, complaints of ataxia, unsteadiness of gait, or postural imbalance associated with neck pain, limited neck range of motion, or headache p r e d ~ m i n a t e . ' ~ . ~ This article will focus on the incidence and prevalence, historical background, and proposed pathophysiology underlying cervicogenic dizziness. In addition, we will address the diagnostic criteria, evaluation, and treatment of dizziness attributed to disorders of the cervical spine. When diagnosed and treated properly, the symptoms of cer-

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vicogenic dizziness can be reduced, resulting in im-

_{HISTORICAL BASIS AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF}

proved function.""

CERVICOGENIC DIZZINESS

INCIDENCE AND PREVALENCE

The concurrence of dizziness complaints and cervical spine dysfunction is commonly associated with flexionextension injuries (whiplash) acquired in a motor vehicle accident. It is estimated that every year 0.1% of the population experiences a whiplash inju- ~-y.~-@' Significant disability can result, with an estimated 20% of individuals who experience whiplash re- quiring greater than 20 weeks to return to work.@' Furthermore, a significant proportion of those who experience whiplash complain of neck pain months after the injury occurred?

The primary symptom of whiplash is neck pain, which is reported by 62-100% of study participants in initial evaluations after the

hipl lash.^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The next most common symptom is headache (primarily occipital in location), which occurs in 6 M 7 % of the study

population^.^^.^^.^^^

Although dizziness, vertigo, and dysequilibrium d o not frequently occur at the initial presentation to the emergency department,".57 20-58% of individuals who have sustained a closed head or whiplash injury will experience these symp toms.58.64.71

Vestibular system disorders are included in the differential diagnosis of patients with dizziness associated with cervical spine dysfunction. For example, dizziness following neck injury may be due to vestibular system pathologies, brain injury, or cervicogenic diz- z i n e s ~ . ~ ' . ~ . ~ Several groups have examined the occurrence of vestibular disorders following whip

lash.21.24.4n..-.71 Table 1 provides operational defini- tions for frequently used terms regarding vestibular pathology that may be unfamiliar to the reader. Rou- tine tests that are performed for the diagnosis of vestibular disorders are described in Table 2. Abnormal- ities have included deficits in smooth eye pursuit, normal or hypoactive caloric vestibular responses, spontaneous and positional nystagmus, and impaired postural ~ o n t r o l . ~ ~ ~ ~ . ~ ~ - ~ ~

Reports of dizziness with other types of neck dysfunction are certainly not as prevalent as with whip lash. However, several case reports have demonstrated dizziness in patients with cervical spine spondylosis and cervical muscle spasms. Ryan and CopeGS reported 3 cases of dizziness that they attributed to cervical spondylosis. The symptoms of 3 patients with dizziness and painful posterior cervical muscles reduced with an injection of anesthetic into the posterior neck m ~ s c l e s . ~ ~ . ~ Cervicogenic dizziness may be a result of whiplash injury, other forms of cervical spine dysfunction, o r spasms in the cervical muscles.

Brown2" relates that the contribution of the cervical region to balance has been studied experimentally in animals for 150 years. Strong connections have been demonstrated between the cervical dorsal roots and the vestibular nuclei with the neck receptors (such as proprioceptors and joint receptors) playing a role in eye-hand coordination, perception of balance, and postural adjustments. Brownz0 provides a comprehensive review of this literature. With strong connections between the cervical receptors and balance function, it is understandable that injury or pathology of the neck may be associated with a sense of dizziness or d y s e q u i l i b r i ~ m . ~

Dizziness that is presumed to occur due to dysfunction in the cervical spine has been recognized since early in the 20th century. Symptoms of cervicogenic dizziness were thought to be due to abnormal input from cervical sympathetic nerves based on the work of Barrelo and Lieow% in the 1920's. They experimentally induced dizziness, tinnitus, and Hor- ner's syndrome (constriction of the pupil, ptosis, ipsi- lateral loss of sweating) by injecting anesthetic into the upper cervical region. No sympathetic or vascular changes were subsequently identified that could account for these symptoms and this theory lost favor.m In the 1950's, there was a resurgence of interest in the idea that dizziness may be related to pathologies of the cervical r e g i ~ n . ~ Ryan and Cope" introduced the term "cervical vertigo" and although vertigo as defined in Table 1 is rarely a symptom, cervical vertigo has remained the most popular name for the focus of Ryan and Cope's paper. These authors theo- rized that cervicogenic dizziness was due to abnormal afferent input to the vestibular nucleus from damaged joint receptors in the upper cervical region. They described 3 types of patients that display this syndrome: patients with cervical spondylosis, patients treated with cervical traction, and patients following neck trauma. Graf4 found that he could relieve dizziness considered to be related to cervical muscle dysfunction by injecting anesthetic into the posterior cervical muscles. This finding supported Ryan and Cope's- theory that abnormal afferents from the cervical region caused dizziness and dysequilibrium.

Others have experimentally produced a "revers- ible" lesion in the cervical region and observed deficits in balance and vision. CohenZJ described deficits in balance, orientation, and coordination in primates following injection of anesthetic in the upper 3 cervical dorsal roots. Biemond and d e Jong15 reported that injection of anesthetic into the neck of rabbits induced positional nystagmus. Later, d e Jong and colleaguesw found that injection of anesthetic around the dorsal roots of rabbits, cats, and primates

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TABLE 1. Definition of terms. Term Definition Ataxia Dizziness Dysequilibrium Saccades

Visual smooth pursuit Unsteadiness of gait Vertigo

Labyrinthine concussion

Mild brain injury

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPW)

Perilymphatic fistula

Whiplash

The inability to produce smooth, coordinated movements.12

A nonspecific term that describes an altered orientation in space. It may include sensations of light-headedness, heavy-headedness, faintness, giddiness, unsteadiness, imbalance, falling, waving, or fl~ating.~

The inability to maintain upright post~re.~

A rapid change in eye position, usually to shift gaze quickly from one object to an~ther.~'.~'

The ability to maintain gaze on a moving object.75 Abnormal sway or gait pattern during amb~lation.~~

An illusory sensation of motion (rotational, translational, or tilting of the visual environment) of either self or surro~ndings.'~

A peripheral vestibular impairment caused by head trauma that usually is mani- fested by unilateral hearing loss and unilateral reduced peripheral vestibular function. Patients will typically complain of fluctuating vertigo and dysequilibrium.38

Injury to the brain characterized by brief loss of consciousness or coma less than 1 hour.

A disorder caused by the presence of debris in the semicircular canal. Patients will typically complain of short episodes of vertigo when rolling over in bed, reaching up, or bending over. The Dix-Hallpike Maneuver is used to diagnose BPW. If present, the patient will present with nystagmus that begins 5-15 seconds after the patient is positioned and lasts for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Symptoms are usually worse in the morning and improve throughout the day."

An abnormal connection between the middle and inner ear spaces. Patients typically present with symptoms of unilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness, dys-

equilibrium, and ~ertigo.'~

Injury to the cervical vertebrae or associated soft tissue caused by a sudden for- ward or backward acceleration of the vertebral co1umn.l

TABLE 2. Common vestibular laboratory tests that may be performed on persons with cervicogenic dizziness.

Vestibular test Description of the test Criteria for a normal result Oculomotor screening5J4 Patients are asked to sit in an otherwise darkened room, The accuracy and timing of the

fixate on a target, and watch vertical lines move in eye movements are compared front of them. The electronystagmography (ENG) elec- with normative data. trodes that surround the eyes record eye movements.

Abnormal responses may indicate central nervous system dysfunction.

Caloric t e ~ t i r i g s l ~ . ~ ~ For horizontal canal testing, patients are placed in the The symmetry and intensity of supine position with their head flexed 30". Warm or the eye movements are com- cold air or water is placed in the ear canal alternately pared with normative data. while the ENG electrodes record eye movements. This

is the only test that can localize the side of the lesion in the ear.

Positional testing5J4 Patients are asked to lie supine with their head turned to Nystagmus is not normally seen the right and left and also to lie completely on their in persons without vestibular left and right sides. The eye movements are recorded dysfunction.

in each position in darkness.

Rotational testinpa Patients sit in a darkened room while they are moved The examiner determines the slowly to the right and left in a rotating chair. Eye symmetry and intensity of the movements are recorded. This test assesses the vestibu- response from the recordings lo-ocular reflex. and compares it to normative

data.

P o ~ t u r o g r a p h y ~ ~ , ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The patient stands on a forceplate during 6 increasingly Patient's scores are compared to complex visual and somato-sensory conditions (Senso- age-related normative scores. ry organization testing). The forceplate records the

amount of sway that the patient experiences. Postural sway is also assessed during linear and angular pertur- bations of the platform.

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produced nystagmus and ataxia. In humans, injecting anesthetic around the cervical dorsal roots caused dysequilibrium, a strong sensation of imbalance and being pulled towards the side of the injection. W a p neri4 discovered that the sensation of tilting or falling could also be evoked by electrical stimulation to the cervical muscles. Accordingly, the aberrant input from the cervical proprioceptors is considered to be related to muscle spasms in the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius muscle^.^^.^.^.^^ Hence, this evidence leads to the current theory that cervicogenic dizziness results from abnormal input into the vestibular nuclei from the proprioceptors of the upper cervical region. Furthermore, the interconnections between the cervical proprioceptors and the vestibular nuclei may contribute to a cyclic

att tern,^

such that cervical muscle spasms contribute to dizziness and dizziness contributes to muscle spasm, although the causal relationship is unclear.

DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA

Cervicogenic dizziness is a diagnosis of exclusion (ie, the diagnosis is usually based on the elimination of the other competing diagnoses, such as vestibular or central nervous system pathologies). The develop ment of a robust clinical diagnostic test for cervicogenic dizziness has been elusive. The neck torsion nystagmus test, or head-fixed, body-turned maneuver is considered by some to identify cervicogenic dizziness." This test requires the head of the patient to be stabilized while the body is rotated under- neath.!'"% Theoretically, the neck proprioceptors are stimulated while the inner ear structures remain at their resting ~ t a t e . ~ Nystagmus is elicited in a positive test. However, this test has not been demonstrated to be specific for cervicogenic dizziness. Ooster- veld et alx' reported that 64% of 262 patients with neck pain who presented to an otolaryngology department post-whiplash had nystagmus elicited with the head-fixed, body-turned maneuver. On the other hand, it has been demonstrated that up to 50% of subjects without cervical spine pathology have also demonstrated nystagmus with the head-fixed, body- turned m a n e ~ v e r . ~ ~ , " ~ . ~ ~ A positive response (nystagmus) may not indicate pathology, but may instead be a manifestation of the cervical ocular reflex.%

Others have explored the use of vestibular and postural sway testing for the diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness. Tjell and Rosenhallio examined smooth pursuit eye movements in patients with whiplash, acute vestibular pathology, or central nervous system dysfunction. Based on reduced velocity of eye movements during the tracking tasks when the subjects' heads were turned, the researchers were able to clas- sify the individuals who had dizziness post-whiplash with a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91%. In addition, evidence of increased postural sway in s u b

jects with whiplash-associated disorder or other cervical dysfunction has led some to consider using postu-

rography as a diagnostic t e ~ t . ~ . ~ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ " W o w e v e r , these tests cannot be performed in the clinic without

specialized equipment and have not been validated. Furthermore, increased postural sway is a nonspecific finding that is also evident in patients with vestibular injury.'

The lack of a definitive diagnostic test increases the challenge of diagnosing cervicogenic dizziness. Therefore, the diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is suggested by (1) a close temporal relationship between neck pain and symptoms of dizziness, including time of onset and occurrence of episodes, (2)

previous neck injury or pathology, and (3) elimination of other causes of dizziness.% It is important to take a detailed history and perform a comprehensive examination in order to eliminate other causes of dizziness. The details of the history and physical examination are discussed below.

PHYSICAL THERAPY EVALUATION

Patient History

When a physician refers a patient to physical therapy, the referral may or may not provide a direction for the history taking. Certainly, a referral for "dizziness, evaluate and treat" by a primary care physician would not be as helpful as one for "cervicogenic dizziness, evaluate and treat" by an otolaryngologist or neurologist. Furthermore, one would expect a more thorough screening procedure for vestibular or central nervous system disorders by the physicians specializing in inner ear disorders. Since not all therapists have the benefit of receiving referrals from these specialists, this article assumes that the only information provided to the therapist is from the patient. Furthermore, because of the imprecise use of the terms dizziness and vertigo in the general com- munity, we will approach the patient with no precon- ceived notions about the qualitative nature of the patient's symptoms.

Obtaining a thorough history from a patient presenting with dizziness is critical to making a decision regarding the proper care of the patient. The first step is to ask the patient to describe their symptoms. Unfortunately, there are many words used to describe symptoms of dizziness and vertigo, and it is often difficult for a patient to provide specific descrip tions. Table 3 includes some typical ways that patients describe their symptoms. If a patient's descrip tion of their symptoms is consistent with vertigo, then a central or peripheral vestibular disorder is suspected. However, cervicogenic dizziness cannot be completely ruled out as a diagnosis.

The duration and frequency of the symptoms, as well as their temporal relationship with the neck

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TABLE 3. Common words used to describe symptoms of patients presenting with balance and vestibular disorders.

Patient's words What the words suggest

Dizziness

Spinning

Headache

My neck hurts.

People tell me that my head is not straight.

I feel like I am going to fall.

I can't walk straight.

I am having trouble reading.

I am tired.

I feel like everything is moving when I am in a busy environment with motion and distractions. My vision is jumping.

Swimming sensation in their head

This is a nonspecific finding and could be either cewicogenic dizziness or a peripheral or central vestibular disorder.

The patient could have a central or peripheral vestibular disorder, although spinning of short duration often suggests Benign Paroxysmal Positional Verti- go (BPPV) if there is no central nervous system dysfunction.

Often patients complain of an occipital or bitemporal headache with cewicogenic dizziness. Tension headaches are more localized and are described as a ring around the head or in the frontal area. Migraines can be very severe, tend to be unilateral, and may cause sensitivity to light and motion. It is often seen in people with whiplash or labyrinthine concussion disorders.

This is more common in central vestibular disorders than peripheral disorders.

This is often seen in ce~icogenic dizziness and also with head trauma. This is rarely seen in persons with peripheral vestibular disorders.

This is common in both cewicogenic dizziness and in peripheral or central vestibular disorders. It is a nonspecific symptom.

This could be seen in cewicogenic dizziness, with a peripheral vestibular disorder, or with central vestibular disorder.

This is also a nonspecific symptom. It could be cewicogenic dizziness or a peripheral or central vestibular disorder. It might be helpful to test their eyes with a vision chart to see if there is any loss of acuity. If the problem exists only with head movement, it may suggest a vestibular abnormality. This is a very common complaint in persons with vestibular or balance disor-

ders.

This complaint of space and motion discomfort is common in persons with migraine, anxiety-panic, and in persons with peripheral vestibular disorders. The visual surroundings will jump with oscillopsia and it usually suggests a

peripheral vestibular disorder of either 1 or both ears.

Nonspecific but can suggest that there is central nervous system dysfunction.

pain, can aid in the diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness. The time (how long ago) and mode of onset

(gradual, sudden, or associated with injury) should be determined. Symptoms resulting from cervicogenic dizziness typically are associated with injury or cervical spine disease, however, their onset may be sudden or gradual and occur days to years following the injury. Next, if the dizziness is episodic, the number of events per day or week and the duration of each event should be elicited by the therapist. Table 4 lists the frequency and duration expected for various causes of dizziness. Cervicogenic dizziness typically occurs in episodes lasting minutes to hours. Informa- tion regarding conditions that exacerbate or relieve the symptoms is also helpful. Symptoms resulting from cervicogenic dizziness will be increased with neck movements o r neck pain and decreased with in-

terventions that relieve neck pain (modalities, anal- gesic, anti-inflammatory or muscle relaxant medication). Finally, the therapist should ask the patient for any history of balance difficulties and falls related to the symptoms.

A similar type of history regarding neck pain should be obtained, including a specific description of symptoms, location, time and mode of onset, and aggravating factors. Dizziness related to active movement or changes in head position with or without neck pain may lead one to think that there is a cervical component. To entertain a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness, however, the therapist must be able to correlate the onset and duration of the dizziness symptoms with the neck dysfunction (ie, dizziness ac- companied by neck pain or with head movements). In addition to the complaints about dizziness and TABLE 4. Duration and frequency of common causes of dizziness. . .

Cause Common symptoms Frequency Duration Related factors

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo4' Vertigo Episodic Seconds Related to head position, usually worse in AM

Cewicogenic d i z ~ i n e s s ~ ~ . ~ ~ Dizziness, dysequilibrium Episodic Minutes to hours Related to head position Perilymphatic fistula16 Dysequilibrium, vertigo Episodic Seconds to minutes Vertigo during Valsalva

maneuver Labyrinthine concussion42 Vertigo, dysequilibrium Episodic Hours to days Increases with fatigue Central vestibular dysfuncti~n~~ Dizziness, dysequilibrium More constant Days to weeks May be seen in combi-

nation with inner ear ~atholoeies

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TABLE 5. The appropriate action to be taken by a physical therapist based on various additional symptoms in patients presenting with dizziness or vertigo.

Unexplained or new onset of Symptoms that require Symptoms that can be symptoms that may require nonemergent referral to treated by a physical

immediate medical attention an otola~n~oloaist therapist

Constant vertigo Constant dizziness Transient dizziness

Feeling of being pushed to one side Unilateral hearing loss Cervical pain

Facial asymmetry New onset of tinnitus Limited cervical range of motion Swallowing dysfunction Aural fullness (stuffiness in ear) Radicular upper extremity symptoms

Speech problems Ear pain Headache

Oculomotor dysfunction (cranial Transient vertigo Balance complaints

nerves Ill, IV, VI) Jaw pain

Rosis Visual sensitivity

Vertical nystagmus Nausealvomiting*

Loss of consciousness Anxiety, fatigue*

Repeated, unexplained falls Changes in sensation Severe headache

Upper motor neuron signs and symptoms

Although physical therapists may not provide direct intervention for these symptoms, reduction in dizziness may alleviate them.

neck dysfunction, the therapist should be careful to ask further questions regarding other symptoms that may be perceived by the patient, as listed in Table 5. All the symptoms in the first column of Table 5 suggest a possible central nervous system pathology that may need immediate attention. It is always preferable to speak with the patient's primary care or referring physician before seeking emergent care. Symptoms listed in the second column of Table 5 (which are frequently reported after sustaining a whiplash injury) require a visit to an otolaryngologist because they are consistent with inner ear pathology. In our opin- ion, these symptoms d o not require urgent attention. Finally, the third column lists typical secondary symp toms that may be reported at the time of the initial evaluation. We believe that these symptoms are within the scope of physical therapist practice and thus may be addressed directly.

If a patient experiences transient true vertigo, then a peripheral vestibular ailment or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is more likely. The time course of the symptoms also may provide a clue to the pathology. Dizziness or vertigo due to perilymphatic fistula may have an onset 24-72 hours after head trauma and episodes may last minutes to hours.%." Nausea and vomiting are common signs of acute vestibular pathology. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo may occur more than 2 weeks after head t r a ~ m a ; ~ and characteristically lasts less than a minute after a change in position.47 Cervicogenic dizziness may occur anywhere from days to months or longer after an injury of the head and neckFO with a time course of minutes to hours per episode.

Examination

Once the history is complete, the therapist can proceed to rule in o r out the competing differential

diagnoses. Note that the examination procedure presented here does not represent the complete exam a vestibular rehabilitation specialist would use for any patient presenting with nonspecific dizziness,'" nor does it represent the complete exam that an orthopaedic physical therapy specialist would use for a patient with nonspecific cervical dysf~nction.~%ther, it is an outline of a thorough examination the au- - thors would use to rule in or out a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness. The order in which the assess- ments are performed is at the discretion of the therapist, but an attempt was made to discuss the examination in a logical sequence.

The flow chart (Figure) depicts the decision-making process that the physical therapist should go through to arrive at a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness or other pathology that may present similarly to cervicogenic dizziness. In the first step, the therapist determines if the patient with a chief complaint of dizziness or vertigo has neck pain, either at rest, with active neck movement, or with palpation of the neck musculature. This step is important because, by definition, a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is excluded in a patient without neck pain.'" If the patient has dizziness with neck pain, a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness should be considered because cervicogenic dizziness might account for both the dizziness and the neck pain. However, there is a possibility that the patient may have neck pain as a secondary impairment due to a vestibular disorder or may have 2 s e p arate diagnoses, 1 to account for the dizziness and 1 to account for the neck pain. To help establish a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness, other vestibular disorders such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere's disease, labyrinthine concussion, and migraine-related vestibulopathy must be ruled out. Al- though the sensitivity and specificity of vestibular

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/

injury or patholog/ I

i

no PPV, vestibular disorder, andlor cewicogenic d i n i

I

I Dix-Hallpike

L-J

no

Vestibular disorder, andlor

Canalith

?-,

repositioning Maneuver cewicogenic dizziness

/

4

vestibular testing Vestibular disorder

and refer to MD for

normal results

Co-treat (Case 1)

FIGURE. Decision tree used for a ~atient who Dresents with dizziness or vertigo and neck pain. BPW indicates benign paroxysmal positional vertigo; MD, medical doctor; VR-PT, vestibhar rehabilitition physical therapist.

function tests are not very high,4.%14.17.X'-3'II~!l.40.7.9 the use of vestibular function tests in conjunction with history and clinical examination provides the clini- cian with a reasonable idea of the involvement of the vestibular system.

In the early part of the examination, the therapist should measure the patient's active cervical range of motion, preferably while the patient is sitting. This is done for several reasons. The first is to simply measure any impairment in the range of motion. Sec- ond, the therapist should inquire about any symp toms of pain or dizziness elicited by the active movements. Changes in pain or dizziness can be quanti- fied by comparing the patient's rating of these symptoms with the rating obtained before movement. Third, the active movement can be used to determine if the patient has adequate range of motion for subsequent tests that the therapist may perform, such as the Dix-Hallpike maneuver for benign parox- ysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which requires 30" of cervical extension and 45" of cervical rotation.:"

With the patient sitting, the therapist may also perform vision tests and an upper quarter screening procedure (range of motion, manual muscle testing, accessory motion testing, sensation and reflex testing of the upper extremity and cervical region).

The therapist may test for posterior semicircular canal BPPV using the Dix-Hallpike mane~ver.~-'"he therapist must make certain that the patient has adequate active range of motion, given that the cervical spine of the patient is placed in 45" of rotation and 30" of extension so that the posterior semicircular ca- nal is stimulated in the vertical plane. The Dix-Hall- pike maneuver is initiated by having the patient at- tain the long-sitting position while the therapist rotates the patient's head 45" to one side and brings the pa- tient into supine quickly while extending the head 30". The patient is asked to report any symptoms while the therapist observes the patient's eyes for nystagmus. If the patient cannot tolerate a traditional Dix-Hallpike maneuver because of pain or decreased cervical range of motion, the position can be modi-

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fied by having the patient lie down to the side with the head turned so the back of the head is toward the surface and the nose is pointing up. Tilt tables or mobilization tables can be used to put the patient in a position to stimulate the posterior semicircular canal by having the patient rotate the head approximately 45' to the side and lowering the head of the bed into a trendelenberg position. A Dix-Hallpike maneuver is said to be positive if the patient reports symptoms of spinning and rotational, upbeating nystagmus is observed with a latency of 5-15 seconds and a duration of 30 seconds to 1 minute. If the Dix- Hallpike maneuver is positive, BPPV can be treated by performing a canalith repositioning maneuverw or by instructing the patient in Brandt-Daroff exercises.'" A single treatment of the canalith repositioning maneuver has been reported to eliminate symptoms in 72-78% of patients with BPPV, with complete res- olution of 91% after 2 treatment^.^^.^^.^^.^^.^" However, only one randomized controlled clinical trial has been performed." Brandt-Daroff exercises have been reported to result in a remission of symptoms in 98% of patients when performed over a 2-week period]" no randomized controlled clinic trial has been performed to confirm this. If the therapist is not skilled in these interventions, then referring the patient to a physical therapist o r physician specializing in balance disorders is appropriate.

A negative Dix-Hallpike maneuver should lead to management of the neck impairments and referral to a physician for vestibular testing. The diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness is then made only after no vestibular abnormalities are found by the physician. Considering either diagnosis, the therapist may de- cide to cotreat with, o r refer to, a vestibular rehabilitation physical therapist.

Patients with cervicogenic dizziness may complain of poor balance. Balance disorders may be manifest- ed by difficulties in standing with a narrow base of support, walking with head turns, reaching outside the base of support, turning and looking over one's shoulder, standing o r walking on compliant surfaces. decreased environmental lighting, and eye closure. A full balance assessment may include pen and paper tests such as the Activities-specific Balance Confi- dence scale?* as well as functional tests like the Dy- namic Gait Indexm and the Berg Balance Test.13 The Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction in Balance (CTSIB) is another popular test that is used to assess the patient's ability to use vestibular cues while conflicting visual and proprioceptive cues are presented.'j7

PHYSICAL THERAPY INTERVENTION

Historically, the intervention for cervicogenic dizziness has included manual therapy (mobilization and manipulation), mechanical traction, physical modali-

ties, postural reeducation, active range of motion, massage, balance retraining, trigger point injection, muscle relaxants, and use of a soft cervical collar during the acute phase.lfi.20.'2~26~27.M.44.5'.65.M~77 HOweV-

er, few controlled clinical trials have been performed to determine the effectiveness of these interventions. Three clinical trials that propose intervention for cervicogenic dizziness are summarized in Table 6. These authors report that 7 3 4 2 % of patients receiving some form of manual therapy had a reduction in their

symptom^.^"^'.^^

It is the authors' experience that patients may require both manual therapy and vestibular rehabilitation to achieve relief of both cervical and vestibular symptoms.

Two case reports will be used to illustrate the diagnosis and treatment of suspected cervicogenic dizziness. One case report describes a patient who was successfully treated using a combination of both manual therapy and vestibular rehabilitation (Case 1). The second case report describes a patient initially evaluated by an orthopaedic physical therapist and given cervical spine range of motion exercises and subsequently treated with vestibular rehabilitation therapy alone (Case 2).

Case 1

The first patient is a 49-year-old woman who presented with complaints of dizziness, nausea, and dysequilibrium 8 months after a motor vehicle accident. She described fluctuating symptoms that occurred daily. The symptoms were exacerbated by head rnove- ments or with lying down and would last for hours. She related that the symptoms were worse on days when the neck pain and headaches were worse. She denied any tinnitus, aural fullness, or hearing loss. Vestibular function testing results including electronys-

tagmography (ENG), calorics, positional testing and rotational chair, provided by the physician, were normal.

On initial evaluation, she rated her neck pain as 8-9/10 on a verbal analog scale with 0 meaning no pain and 10 meaning the worst imaginable pain. Her cervical range of motion was not impaired; however, any head or neck movements increased her symp toms of dizziness. She presented with tenderness to palpation and palpable trigger points (areas of increased pain) in her bilateral upper trapezius, scale- nes, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. She dernon- strated an inability to maintain focus on an object while turning her head (impaired functional use of the vestibular-ocular reflex) and complained of increased nausea during activities that required head and eye movement. During static balance testing, she was able to maintain stance with feet together for 6 seconds with her eyes open, but was unable to maintain the position with her eyes closed. She was unable to maintain tandem stance (sharpened Romberg)

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TABLE 6. Summary of articles that address outcome of treatment for cervicogenic dizziness.

Study Wing and Hatgrave-Wilson, 1 974n Karlberg et al, 199652 Calm et al. 1998"

Subjects

Control group Type of study

Neurodologic evaluation

Intervention

Frequency and duration

Outcome measures

Results

80 subjects with history of neck pain and vertigo, 46% with neck injury.

None. Case series.

96% had normal ear, nose, and throat examination, 80% had normal electronystagmography examination including caloric and positional testing. Manipulation, immobilization in

soft cervical collar, instruction in proper sleeping positions.

Not specified.

Ear, nose, and throat with head flexed, extended or rotated with eyes open and closed; subjective report of symptom relief.

73% of patients demonstrated improvements in ear, nose, and throat with head and neck movements. 53% of patients reported complete relief of all symptoms. 36% had significant improvement and re- turned to normal activity without medication.

17 patients, mean age 37 years, with diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness. Subjects randomized to receive immediate ~hvsical therapy or wait 2 months and i k a t e physical therapy.

17 healthy subjects.

Prospective, randomized, clinical trial. Ear, nose, and throat and neurological exam

excluded extra-cervical causes of dizziness.

Soft tissue treatment, stabilization exercises of the trunk and cervical spine, passive and active range of motion exercises, re- laxation techniques, home training pro- grams, and minor ergonomic changes at work.

5-20 weeks with median number of visits =

13.

Subjective intensity of neck pain; intensity and frequency of dizziness; variance of vibration and galvanic-induced body sway.

There was no change in symptoms of neck pain or dizziness between the time when initially tested and just prior to beginning physical therapy, for the group that started treatment late. 82% of ~atients re~orted improvement of dizzinks followi;lg physical therapy. 82% of patients reported improvement of neck symptoms. Postural performance significantly improved following phvsical theraw ( P < .05).

50 patients with suspected cervicogenic dizziness, 31 patients with cervical spine dysfunction (group A) and 19 patients without cervical spine dysfunction (group B). None.

Case series.

Ear, nose, and throat and neurological exam excluded extra- cervical causes of dizziness.

Both groups treated with manual therapy.

"Intensive outpatient physical therapy" for up to 3 months. Subjective improvement in dizzi-

ness.

Group A: 77.4% reported improvement of symptoms of dizziness; 5 patients completely free of dizziness. Group B:

26.3% reported improvement of symptoms; none were completely free of symptoms.

or single limb stance without upper extremity s u p port. On the sensory organization test of computerized dynamic posturography, she demonstrated a pattern of multisensory dysfunction. Her composite score was 19/100 (normal for her age would be 70/

100) with increased sway in conditions 1-3 and falls on all trials of conditions 4-43 (for additional information about posturography test conditions, refer to Furman"). She demonstrated ataxic gait with her eyes open and closed.

The patient was given a diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness based on the association between her symp toms of dizziness and neck pain, history of a flexionextension injury of the cervical region, and the exclusion of other peripheral vestibular pathology. She was initially seen weekly for physical therapy and treated with soft tissue massage, mobilization, and deep massage to her cervical musculature with emphasis on massaging the trigger points in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. She was instructed in a home exercise program of gentle range of motion exercises, followed by application of ice to be performed 2-

4 times each day. In addition, she was provided a

transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit and instructed in its use to provide pain relief and to decrease the spasms in the cervical muscles. She was also instructed to begin a progressive walking program and to perform simple balance activities such as standing with the eyes closed and standing feet together with small amounts of sway.

At the end of 3 weeks, the patient reported that her pain level had decreased from 8-9/10 to 3/10 on a verbal analog scale more than 50% of time. She reported only a single episode of dizziness and nausea in the previous week. She demonstrated significant improvement in the static balance tests. She demonstrated no veering while walking with head turns or while walking with her eyes closed. Al- though she demonstrated significant improvements in pain control and balance, she continued to describe dizziness and nausea with head turns, standing or moving with her eyes closed, with movement in the environment or with conflicting visual cues (ie, walking in store aisles or in environments with busy patterns on the floor or walls). Due to these syrnp toms of dizziness and the finding of gaze instability J Orthop Sports Phys Ther.Volume 30. Number 12. December 2 0 0

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at initial evaluation, it was decided to begin vestibular rehabilitation to decrease her reliance on visual and somatosensory cues and increase her use of vestibular cues for balance. The vestibular rehabilitation program consisted of eye exercises (VORxl and VORx2) to improve the efficacy of the vestibular-ocular reflex and balance exercises with graded exposure to varied sensory

The patient was seen for 17 visits over a period of 5 months. At discharge, she reported that she was close to 100% of her premorbid function. She continued to complain of left occipital pain and mild dizziness with quick movements and visual conflict. She reported her pain level was less than 2/10 on a verbal analog scale 90% of the time. On evaluation, cervical range of motion and strength were not impaired and she was able to perform the static balance tests (Romberg, sharpened Romberg, and single limb stance) for at least 30 seconds with her eyes open and closed. Her computerized dynamic posturography score had also improved to within normal limits, with a composite score of 81/100 and normal amounts of sway on all 6 conditions of the sensory organization test. She was able to ambulate commu- nity distances (distances of 1-2 miles) without assis- tance and with no evidence of sway.

Case

2

The patient is a 49-year-old female who experienced a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a flexionextension injury of the cervical region one year ago. She was referred to an outpatient orthopaedic clinic with a diagnosis of neck pain and dizziness. The patient's chief complaint was of dizziness and imbalance, which she related to changes in head position. She had only 25% of normal cervical flexion, extension, right side bending, and right rotation. She also had approximately 50% of normal range of motion for left side bending and left rotation. The orthopaedic therapist saw the patient for 1 visit and provided her with neck stretching exercises in an attempt to increase her range of motion and then referred her to vestibular rehabilitation.

The patient stated that she previously had experienced an acute onset of vertigo but had not been vertiginous for several months. Her Activities-specific Balance Confidence scale (ABC) score was only 27%, indicating that the patient perceived that she was not confident with her balance (100% is the best score that can be achieved). The ABC is a tool used to assess confidence in 16 different activities of daily liv- ing and has been used with persons with vestibular dysf~nction.~" The patient's Dizziness Handicap In- v e n t o r y (DHI) score was 66. Scores range from zero to 100. A score of zero indicates no symptoms. The DHI measures perceived handicapping effects of

dizziness. A score of 66, in our experience, reflects severe symptoms.

The patient had normal strength, sensation, and deep tendon reflexes in all extremities. At baseline, the patient's dizziness symptoms were 50/100 based on a verbal analog scale (higher scores indicate greater perceived dizziness). She related a mild increase in symptoms during head movements with her eyes open and closed. Her dynamic posturography score was normal for the Sensory Organization Test. The patient's Dynamic Gait Index score was 20/24. A score of 24/24 would be considered normal for her age.m The therapist attempted to perform the Dix- Hallpike maneuver in order to rule out BPPV, but the patient was unable to tolerate the position because of nausea.

It was believed that the patient had symptoms consistent with cervicogenic dizziness based on her flexionextension injury, correlation of symptoms with head movements and neck pain and the exclusion of a peripheral vestibular diagnosis based on normal performance on vestibular function testing (electronystagmography, caloric, positional and rotational vestibular testing). Due to the patient's complaints of dizziness, dysequilibrium, and her lack of confidence in performing upright activities it was believed she would benefit from a rehabilitation program that would retrain her ability to use various balance strat- egies during functional activities. The patient was provided with a home exercise program that empha- sized walking, standing and performing head movements, rolling to the right and left, and standing with eyes closed.

She was seen for 2 additional visits, 2 weeks apart. During her fourth visit to physical therapy 2 months after her initial evaluation, her ABC score had in- creased to 70% and her DHI had decreased to 40/ 100. The patient was not complaining of any symp toms at baseline and the DGI increased to 23/24. However, she continued to have an increase in symp toms while shopping and in busy visual environments. She had no symptoms while working. The patient was satisfied with the outcome of her therapy and was discharged.

CONCLUSION

Cervicogenic dizziness is a diagnosis characterized by dizziness and dysequilibrium that is associated with neck pain in patients with cervical pathology. The current literature on this topic is limited with respect to the number and quality of the clinical ui-

als reported. The diagnosis is dependent on correlating symptoms of imbalance and dizziness with neck pain and excluding other vestibular disorders on the basis of history, examination, and vestibular function tests. When diagnosed correctly, we believe that cervicogenic dizziness can be successfully treated using a

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combination o f manual therapy a n d vestibular rehabilitation.

Manual therapy is recommended treatment f o r cervicogenic dizziness directed at decreasing muscle spasms and trigger points o f pain in the cervical musculature. In the first case presented, although the patient's neck pain and balance appeared to improve with manual therapy, i t was n o t until she was also given vestibular rehabilitation exercises that the symptoms o f dizziness improved. In the second case, the patient improved w i t h a home exercise program that addressed cervical range o f m o t i o n and balance. From o u r clinical experience, we recommend that cervicogenic dizziness be treated with manual therapy t o decrease the irritation o n the cervical proprioceptors f r o m muscle spasms a n d trigger points, a n d exercises with graded exposure t o sensory inputs to improve the patient's use o f vestibular a n d proprioceptive inputs for balance. In addition, we recom- m e n d eye exercises to improve the function o f the vestibular-ocular reflex. In order t o fully address all o f the patient's symptoms, i t may be necessary f o r the orthopaedic and vestibular specialists to treat the patient together.

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