Restoring Balance and Clarity Through Specialized Care
Vertigo is more than just feeling “lightheaded”—it is the disorienting sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, tilting, or swaying when no actual movement is occurring. This can lead to nausea, a loss of balance, and a significant decrease in your ability to perform daily tasks. At Optimal Spine and Sports Medicine, Dr. Kenneth Haywood utilizes a functional neurological approach to identify why your balance system is misfiring.
If you are tired of simply “managing” your dizziness with medication, our Houston clinic offers non-invasive solutions to help you regain your steady ground.
Understanding the Source: Why Do You Feel Like You’re Spinning?
Your sense of balance is maintained by a complex communication network between your eyes, your inner ear (vestibular system), and the nerves in your upper neck. When one of these systems sends “glitchy” data to the brain, vertigo is the result.
Common types of vertigo and balance issues treated by Dr. Haywood include:
- Cervicogenic Vertigo: This occurs when the joints or muscles in the upper neck are misaligned or restricted. These joints contain “proprioceptors” that tell your brain where your head is in space. If they are sending incorrect signals, your brain becomes confused, leading to dizziness.
- BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo): Often caused by tiny “crystals” in the inner ear becoming displaced.
- Post-Concussion Syndrome: Dizziness resulting from the jarring forces of an auto accident or sports injury.
- Vestibular Migraines: Headaches that present primarily as episodes of vertigo rather than sharp pain.
The Upper Cervical Connection
The top two vertebrae in your neck (the Atlas and Axis) sit just beneath the base of your skull, very close to the brainstem and the inner ear structures. Because of their unique shape and high level of mobility, they are easily misaligned by traumas like whiplash or chronic poor posture.
Dr. Kenneth Haywood specializes in gentle, precision adjustments to this area. By restoring proper alignment to the upper cervical spine, we can:
- Reduce Nerve Interference: Clearing the communication pathways between the neck and the brain’s balance centers.
- Improve Blood Flow: Ensuring the vestibular system and brainstem receive the oxygen and nutrients needed to function correctly.
- Decrease Muscle Tension: Relaxing the suboccipital muscles that, when tight, can trigger dizzy spells.
Our Comprehensive Vertigo Protocol
With a background in Exercise and Sports Science, Dr. Haywood looks at balance as a functional skill that can be rehabilitated. Your treatment plan may include:
- Targeted Spinal Adjustments: Focusing on the upper neck to stabilize the foundation of your head.
- Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercises: Specific eye and head movements designed to “re-calibrate” your balance system and reduce your sensitivity to motion.
- Proprioceptive Training: Exercises that improve your body’s ability to sense its position, which is vital for preventing falls.
- Nutritional Support: Addressing inflammation or “metabolic triggers” that can exacerbate inner ear issues.
Why Choose Dr. Kenneth Haywood?
Vertigo is often a “invisible” condition that leaves patients feeling frustrated and unheard. Dr. Haywood’s clinical approach is rooted in empathy and diagnostic precision. Having managed significant physical recoveries himself, he understands the importance of finding a solution that works. He takes the time to perform a thorough neurological assessment to distinguish between inner ear issues and spinal-related dizziness, ensuring your treatment is as effective as possible.
Reclaim Your Stability
Don’t let the fear of a dizzy spell keep you from enjoying your life in Houston. Whether your vertigo is a new development or a chronic struggle, there is a path to a steadier future.
Get back on solid ground. Call Optimal Spine and Sports Medicine at (281) 301-7710 to schedule your vertigo evaluation today.