If you’ve ever felt dizzy, unsteady, or like your head is floating, you might be dealing with cervicogenic dizziness.
Unlike vertigo caused by inner ear issues, this type of dizziness actually originates from the upper cervical spine (the top of your neck).
I’m Tim Brasseur, a headache clinician at the Gold Coast Headache and Migraine Clinic, and I see this all the time in patients who have been told “everything looks normal” despite their lingering symptoms.
That’s because cervicogenic dizziness is often missed or misunderstood – yet the root cause is treatable, especially with targeted physiotherapy.
What Is Cervicogenic Dizziness?
Cervicogenic dizziness occurs when stiffness, dysfunction, or irritation in the C0-C3 joints of the upper neck disrupts the signals your body uses for balance and spatial awareness.
These neck joints are rich in receptors that help coordinate with your eyes and inner ears to tell your brain where your body is in space.
When these signals become mismatched or disturbed (like after whiplash, poor posture, or desk work), you can experience:
- A floating or off-balance sensation
- Light-headedness when moving your neck
- Visual disturbances or nausea
- Headaches and neck pain
3 Easy Exercises to Support Recovery
These gentle, evidence-based exercises can help re-train your neck and reduce dizziness:
- Cervical Joint Repositioning Exercise
- Sit upright with a laser pointer or focus on a target on the wall.
- Turn your head side to side with eyes closed, then open your eyes and re-align with the target.
- Repeat 10x each direction.
- Chin Tucks (Deep Neck Flexor Activation)
- Sit or stand tall. Gently tuck your chin in like you’re giving yourself a double chin.
- Hold for 5–10 seconds, relax, and repeat 10 times.
- Helps activate deep neck stabilisers.
- Gaze Stabilisation (VOR x1)
- Focus on a stationary object in front of you.
- Rotate your head side to side, keeping your eyes fixed on the object.
- Continue for 30 seconds, rest, repeat 3x.
Important: These exercises should be pain-free and not increase your dizziness.
Other Management Techniques We Use at Our Clinic
- The Watson Headache® Approach
As a certified practitioner, I use this world-renowned method to assess and treat the exact cervical segments (C1-C3) that often trigger dizziness, using gentle hands-on techniques. - Manual Therapy & Joint Mobilisation
Hands-on treatment to reduce joint stiffness and irritation in the upper cervical spine, which helps restore normal movement and reduce faulty sensory input. - Postural Correction & Education
Poor posture (especially forward head posture) is a major contributor. We guide you through ergonomic advice, posture retraining, and daily habits to help long-term.
You’re Not “Just Dizzy” – There’s a Treatable Cause
If you’re still searching for answers after ENT visits or scans show nothing wrong, cervicogenic dizziness could be the missing link.
At the Gold Coast Headache and Migraine Clinic, we specialise in non-medicated, root-cause-based care and our results speak for themselves.
Book a consultation with me, Tim Brasseur, today. Let’s uncover whether your dizziness is coming from your neck and finally get you feeling steady again.
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References
Carrasco-Uribarren, A., Rodríguez-Sanz, J., López-de-Celis, C., Fanlo-Mazas, P., & Cabanillas-Barea, S. (2022). An upper cervical spine treatment protocol for cervicogenic dizziness: A randomized controlled trial. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 38(13), 2640–2649. https://doi.org/10.1080/09593985.2021.1972500
Carrasco-Uribarren, A., Rodríguez-Sanz, J., López-de-Celis, C., Pérez-Guillén, S., Tricás-Moreno, J. M., & Cabanillas-Barea, S. (2022). Short-term effects of the traction-manipulation protocol in dizziness intensity and disability in cervicogenic dizziness: A randomized controlled trial. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44(14), 3601–3609. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2021.1872719
Devaraja, K. (2018). Approach to cervicogenic dizziness: A comprehensive review of its aetiopathology and management. European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, 275(10), 2421–2433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-018-5088-z
