Effect of vestibular rehabilitation and manual therapy focusing on the upper cervical spine in patients with non-specific dizziness

Abstract

Non-specific dizziness and neck pain can significantly impact daily life. This study aimed to investigate the effects of manual therapy focused on the upper cervical spine and vestibular rehabilitation in patients with non-specific dizziness. A total of 25 patients with neck pain but no vestibular dysfunction were included in the study. The experimental group received manual therapy focused on the upper cervical spine along with vestibular rehabilitation, while the control group underwent only vestibular rehabilitation. Both groups received interventions five times per week, for 30-minute sessions, over a period of two weeks. Joint position error (JPE) was measured to assess proprioception, and the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) was used to evaluate dizziness before and after the intervention. A significant between-group difference was observed in the post-treatment JPE measurements for flexion and right rotation. Additionally, significant differences were found between groups in the physical domain and total score of the DHI. The findings suggest that manual therapy focused on the upper cervical spine, combined with vestibular rehabilitation, may serve as an effective intervention forimproving proprioception and reducing dizziness symptoms in patients with non-specific dizziness.