Dizziness and neck pain: a correct diagnosis is required before consulting a physiotherapist

Abstract

Patients with dizziness often present with concurrent neck complaints. Although there is no evidence that physiotherapy treatment of the neck reduces dizziness, many patients have been treated by a physiotherapist before they visit our tertiary dizziness centre. 1. How often do dizziness and neck complaints co-occur? and 2. how many patients have been treated by a physiotherapist for their neck complaints with a view to reduce the dizziness complaints? In a prospective observational study, the following data were collected: age, gender, neck complaints, and whether or not the dizziness had been treated by physiotherapy. From 455 non-consecutive patients with dizziness, 192 (42 %) patients had concurrent neck complaints in addition to dizziness. Within this group, 87 (45 %) had been treated with physiotherapy to reduce the dizziness. In 81 patients (94 %) who had been treated with physiotherapy, the doctors of the dizziness centre discovered a cause of the dizziness that could be treated medically. Neck complaints and dizziness often coincide. Treatment of the neck complaints with physiotherapy is frequently used. However, the causes of the dizziness are often vestibular (non-cervical) for which medical treatment is available. A correct diagnosis is required before consulting a physiotherapist.

Keywords: Dizziness; Neck pain; Physiotherapy; Vertigo.