Assesses for cervicogenic dizziness.

  • Dizziness and Swivel Chair Test
  • Vertigo and neck pain
  • Differentiation of cervicogenic dizziness from vestibular disorders
Patient Position
  • Seated on a swivel chair, eyes closed, with hips and knees flexed to 90°
Examiner Position
  • Standing directly behind the patient
Steps of Performance
  1. Examiner fixes patients head in neutral position with both hands
  2. Patient actively alternates between 45° of left and right rotation of their trunk with the help of their legs
    • Rotation is at a metronome pace of 60 beats per minute
Alternative Methods
  1. Patient rotates their head side to side first to assess for symptoms
  2. The standard technique is then executed and symptoms are compared

Holding the head still while rotating the trunk prevents stimulation of the vestibular system; thereby, isolating stimulation of cervical afferent nerve fibers.

General

Positives

Dizziness

  • Dizziness is cervicogenic
    • Other common symptoms include: visual disturbances, speech disturbance, motion sickness or nausea, slurred speech, dysphagia, lightheadedness, tinnitus, headache, paresthesia, or unusual eye movements when opening the eyes after the test

Pertinent Negatives

Assesses for cervicogenic dizziness.

  • Vertigo and neck pain
  • Differentiation of cervicogenic dizziness from vestibular disorders
Patient Position
  • Seated on a swivel chair, eyes closed, with hips and knees flexed to 90°
Examiner Position
  • Standing directly behind the patient
Steps of Performance
  1. Examiner fixes patients head in neutral position with both hands
  2. Patient actively alternates between 45° of left and right rotation of their trunk with the help of their legs
    • Rotation is at a metronome pace of 60 beats per minute
Alternative Methods
  1. Patient rotates their head side to side first to assess for symptoms
  2. The standard technique is then executed and symptoms are compared

Holding the head still while rotating the trunk prevents stimulation of the vestibular system; thereby, isolating stimulation of cervical afferent nerve fibers.

General

Positives

Dizziness

  • Dizziness is cervicogenic
    • Other common symptoms include: visual disturbances, speech disturbance, motion sickness or nausea, slurred speech, dysphagia, lightheadedness, tinnitus, headache, paresthesia, or unusual eye movements when opening the eyes after the test

Pertinent Negatives