3 Easy At Home Tests for Cervicogenic Vertigo or Dizziness (Vertigo Triggered by Head Movement Due to Spine Problems)

Transient dizziness or vertigo that occurs with head movements is often attributed to a vestibular problem like BPPV (displaced inner ear crystal). However, cervical spine problems that have nothing to do with the inner ear can also elicit vertigo attacks with head movements. Additional symptoms that suggest a cervicogenic source of dizziness instead of the inner ear include history of headache, neck pain, and limited cervical range of motion.

There are three bedside tests which can further suggest the diagnosis of cervicogenic vertigo, especially if the Dix-Hallpike test for BPPV comes back normal. These tests require the head to be kept still to prevent any activation of the inner ear balance system. As such, any test movements that trigger dizziness is thus isolated to the cervical spine as the source of the vertigo.

The three tests demonstrated in the video are:

• Cervical Torsion Test (specificity of 98.5% and sensitivity unknown)

• Head Neck Differentiation Test (specificity of 90% and sensitivity unknown)

• Smooth Pursuit Neck Torsion Test (sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 91%)

None of these tests definitively rule-in or rule-out cervicogenic vertigo. But rather, it provides information that help guide towards a possible diagnosis. 

Should cervicogenic vertigo be ultimately diagnosed, here are some home exercises that can help resolve this condition.

 

References: 

Smooth pursuit neck torsion test: a specific test for cervical dizziness. Am J Otol. 1998 Jan;19(1):76-81.

Normative responses to clinical tests for cervicogenic dizziness: Clinical cervical torsion test and head-neck differentiation test. Physical Therapy, 100(1), 192-200. 2020.

Evaluation of paraclinical tests in the diagnosis of cervicogenic dizziness. Otology & neurotology, 35(10), 1858-1865. 2014.