For many people, summertime brings adventure and travel; whether by plane, train, car or boat. Therein lies the problem for people with motion sickness, a condition also known as airsickness, carsickness or seasickness. For those who experience the typical motion sickness symptoms – uneasiness, sweating, dizziness, nausea and vomiting – the ability to travel or spend time on the ocean can be greatly impacted.

Our body’s system of balance – the vestibular system – consists of the inner ear, the eyes and the spinal joints. These three components send vital information to the brain in order to maintain normal balance and equilibrium. Any disruption of this system can lead to dizziness disorders, such as motion sickness.

One of the most common causes of interference to the vestibular system is injury to spinal joints, specifically at the upper neck. Through trauma or overuse, injury may occur in the alignment between the base of the head and the top two cervical (neck) vertebrae. Common sources of trauma include blows to the head, whiplash and falls during sports, and motor vehicle accidents.

A problem in the alignment of the upper neck may send “mixed signals” to the brain, which can interfere with vestibular function and lead to the chronic reoccurrence of motion sickness.

An innovative approach for motion sickness, known as upper cervical care, is a chiropractic treatment that focuses upon the alignment of the top two vertebrae in the neck. Upper cervical chiropractic care utilizes two diagnostic tests – thermal imaging and digital x-rays – to accurately assess an upper cervical injury. Each patient’s injured neck is corrected by administering a precise adjustment by hand on a specially designed knee chest table. Many motion sickness patients notice improvement in symptoms with just a few treatments.

Upper cervical care provides a unique method for the treatment of trauma-induced cervical injuries related to motion sickness. The goal from treatment is to restore normal function of the vestibular system, thereby eliminating motion sickness symptoms, as quickly as possible.

With over 20 years of experience as a specialist in the upper cervical spine, Upper Cervical Chiropractor Dr. Erin Elster, D.C., has successfully treated over 200 patients with dizziness and vertigo disorders. Her published vertigo research is available on her website at www.erinelster.com. For more information, contact Dr. Elster in Kahului at (808) 866-6551 or erin@erinelster.com.