Waking up to feeling your tires spinning out of control, nausea and motion sickness, sense of fullness in your ears, tension in your neck. You may be experiencing vertigo.
Vertigo is a medical condition that can hit you out of nowhere. It is the kryptonite to many superwomen. Vertigo is not specifically associated with mountain biking, but when it strikes, it can knock you off balance—literally and figuratively. For those of us who pour our heart and soul into riding, a sudden attack of vertigo feels like getting bucked off your bike mid-descent: disorienting, frustrating, and honestly, a little scary.
As an athlete who personally experiences vertigo in the form of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, this author understands the loss of control, fear and strong sense of unease this condition can cause.
“At first I felt dizzy – not with the kind of dizziness that makes the body reel but the kind that’s like a dead emptiness in the brain, an instinctive awareness of the void.” – Fernando Pessoa
What is Vertigo?
Vertigo is a symptom of health conditions rather than a disease itself.
Symptoms of Vertigo:
- sensation that the environment around you is spinning
- nausea and vomiting
- dizziness
- balance issues
- hearing loss
- tinnitus
- headaches
- motion sickness
- sense of fullness in your ear
- nystagmus (rapid eye movements side-to-side)
Two Types of Vertigo:
1. Peripheral: Most common form affecting the inner ear or vestibular nerve.
Conditions include:
- Ménière’s disease
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Layrinthitis
- Vestibular neuritis
2. Central: Rare affecting the brain
Conditions include:
- Stroke
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Infections
Get Help
This is the first and maybe the hardest step in experiencing vertigo is recognizing it and accepting that you need help. For most of us athletes, the instinct is to tough it out. Grin, bear it, and power through. It’s how we’re wired, right? Show no weakness, push past limits, and never back down.
But here’s the thing: vertigo doesn’t play by those rules. It can hit you so hard it literally drops you to your knees. The world spins, your balance is shot, and even standing feels like a victory. Trying to muscle through it without help? That’s a losing battle.
It’s not about weakness—it’s about being smart. Vertigo isn’t just an annoying distraction; it can be debilitating without the right care and tools to manage it. Admitting you need support doesn’t make you less of a badass; it makes you a rider who’s ready to do what it takes to get back on the bike stronger than before.
Find a safe space: Lie down and prevent a fall. The most common injury during an episode of vertigo is falling. Find a safe spot, preferably near a phone, and lie on your side.
Ask for help: Call a friend or family member, ask a partner or call 911 if you are unwell.
Chiropractic:
Peripheral vertigo can respond well to physical adjustments and maneuvers. One of the causes of vertigo may be that the calcium crystals in your inner ear, called otoliths, may become displaced. Physical maneuvers, such as Epley maneuver, can resettle the otoliths resolving the vertigo episode.
Speaking with a prominent chiropractor, Dr. Clay Sullworld, D.C. at Mancos Chiropractic in Colorado, specializing in upper cervical spine, “If the Epley maneuver does not work, that is when they should see an upper cervical specialist. I address the subluxation in the upper cervical spine. Once the brainstem pressure is resolved, vertigo will be relieved.”
Naturopathic Medicine:
As a whole-body approach to wellness, Naturopathic doctors will be taking the vertigo into consideration while evaluating the entire health picture. Hydration status, histamine overload, elevation changes, sinus infections and lymphatic drainage are some of the areas to consider.
Cocculus Homeopathic is a leading homeopathic medicine for managing motion sickness, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and sleeplessness.
NAC (N-acetyl Cysteine) is a natural mucolytic that can relieve sinus congestion, reduce mucus production, and increase the antioxidant glutathione, which may help underlying conditions contributing to vertigo.
Physical Medicine and Acupuncture:
Muscle tension in the neck, shoulders, and scalp may contribute to decreasing lymphatic drainage, causing inner ear dysfunction. Massage, acupuncture, and vestibular rehabilitation may help to increase circulation, open lymphatic drainage and reduce symptoms of vertigo.
Conventional Medicine:
Antihistamines and motion sickness medications such as ‘Dramamine’ can reduce inner ear fluid. This treatment may allow otoliths to settle back into their original positions. Traumatic brain injury, stroke, and infections should always be ruled out and discussed with your medical provider.
If you are experiencing vertigo or know someone who has, this is a time for compassionate care, rest, and rehabilitation while seeking help from trusted providers.
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About the Author:
Dr. Bridget Anderson is a Naturopathic doctor and the owner of HEAL Natural Medicine, where she offers personalized care through telemedicine, making it easier for patients to access the support they need, no matter how busy their lives may be. As an athlete herself, she is passionate about supporting women athletes and understands their unique needs. Beginning her career by collaborating with Olympic athletes to enhance their performance and recovery, Dr. Anderson quickly recognized the crucial connection between optimal health, quality of life, and peak performance. She helps women thrive at every stage of life, from guiding teens through their health journey to supporting fertility, postpartum care, and the transitions of peri/menopause. She believes in empowering women to feel their best, embrace each stage with confidence, and excel both in life and sport.
