CRI over MRI: A Cranial Approach to Dizziness

Dizziness is a nonspecific term that describes symptoms such as feeling "faint, woozy, weak or unsteady."1 Dizziness can have various etiologies, but the diagnosis remains unclear in about 10% of presenting cases.2 Our hypothesis is that osteopathic evaluation and treatment can aid in the management of undiagnosed cases of dizziness. A 46-year old female presented with a 5-year history of dizziness after recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) secondary to a syncopal episode with fall onto a cement floor. Prior to her osteopathic examination and treatment, she had attempted medical intervention for vertigo and underwent imaging and hematological studies to no avail. After 4 applications of osteopathic cranial manipulative medicine (OCMM), including the v-spread, cranial bone lifts, venous sinus drainage, and other osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) techniques, the patient had zero dizzy episodes and has been able to return to daily activities with complete resolution of symptoms.