vertigo

Can Bad Posture Really Cause Vertigo?

The sensation of vertigo is unpleasant. It’s a sensation that makes you feel like you’re spinning or that the world is whirling around. 

The primary symptom of vertigo is dizziness. This can last anywhere from a few hours to months or even years. And it can be severe enough to cause nausea and vomiting. 

Other signs and symptoms include headaches, eye twitching, sweat, and ringing in the ears.

It can be a frightening experience, but it usually indicates a major underlying problem. But one major cause can be bad posture. Learn why this is below.

What Causes Vertigo And How Posture Plays A Role

Vertigo can sometimes be caused by a sickness or illness, such as a virus or a tumor. When it happens in these situations, doctors can quickly identify the cause.

But then there is idiopathic vertigo. This is a medical term that means there is no known cause or origin.

The majority of idiopathic cases of vertigo are caused by one specific factor: the posture of the head. To put it another way, vertigo is generally caused by poor posture. 

When we stand upright and move around in our environment, our muscles must provide support against the force of gravity on our bodies. 

Long-term damage to the body’s supporting soft tissues caused by accidents, injuries, and repetitive stress (such as working long hours on a computer or sleeping in bad sleeping postures) can cause wear and tear in the body’s supporting soft tissues, leading to a breakdown in posture. 

How Can Bad Posture Cause Vertigo? 

Muscle function can be affected by changes in the function of tiny sensors known as proprioceptors in the muscles and ligaments that tell the brain where our body is in space. 

A change in muscle function can affect the ability of the proprioceptors in our muscles and ligaments to relay that information to our brain accurately. So, your body knows where it is simply by being there. It communicates this information to your brain constantly.

As a result, you don’t have to keep your eyes on the ground while you walk since you have an internal sensation of the ground on which you walk. A miscommunication caused by changed muscle function can also result in feelings of unsteadiness, which can be especially noticeable while moving your neck or body.

The semicircular canals, which are three interconnected tubes located in the deepest depths of the inner ear, are another system that modulates our relationship to the ground. Those canals are filled with a fluid known as endolymph.

When we are in the appropriate relationship to our field of gravity, that fluid flows freely, allowing us to work without losing our balance or becoming dizzy.

Can You Fix Vertigo Caused By Bad Posture?

Can you fix this? It’s definitely possible. The first thing to do is adjust your reflexive posture. 

Using your postural reflexes might help you regain balance and reduce stress on your muscles and joints. Working with a practitioner who understands the postural system, such as a chiropractor, osteopath, or personal trainer, can be beneficial.

The next step is to re-teach your muscles to keep and hold you in proper postural alignment. Stretches focused on the chest, hamstrings, and hip flexors, as well as exercises to strengthen the back, are a great place to start.