ORIGINAL PAPER
Cervico-ocular reflex upregulation in dizzy patients with asymmetric neck pathology
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1
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Audiology and Phoniatrics Clinic, Balance Disorders Unit)
2
Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Clinic of Medical Rehabilitation)
3
Holy Family Medical Hospital, Łódź, Poland
4
Medical center “Medicover”, Łódź, Poland
5
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Audiology and Phoniatrics Clinic)
Online publication date: 2019-10-07
Corresponding author
Ewa Zamysłowska-Szmytke
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Audiology and Phoniatrics Clinic, Balance Disorders Unit, św. Teresy 8,
91-348 Łódź, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2019;32(5):723-33
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the restriction in neck rotation and increased neck muscle tension could be causally
related to vertigo and dizziness. Material and Methods: Seventy-one patients reporting vertigo and/or imbalance were divided into 2 groups: 45 subjects
with unilateral restriction (R+) and 26 without restriction (R–) of cervical rotation and muscle tension in the clinical flexion-rotation test. The
normal caloric test was the inclusion criterion. The control group comprised 36 healthy volunteers with no history of vertigo. The vestibulo-ocular
reflex (VOR) and the cervico-occular reflex (COR) were measured through the videonystagmography (VNG) sinusoidal pendular kinetic test in the
conditions of not inactivated head and immobilized head, respectively. The VNG-head torsion test (VNG-HTT) nystagmus was recorded. Results: Among the reported complaints, neck stiffness, headaches and blurred vision were more frequent in the R+ group than in both the R– group and
the control group. VNG revealed an increased COR gain and the presence of VNG-HTT nystagmus in the R+ group only. Similarly, only in the R+
group a positive relationship between COR and VOR was observed. Conclusions: Patients with asymmetric restriction in neck rotation and increased
neck muscle tension reveal the tendency to have an increased response of the vestibular system, along with co-existing COR upregulation. Further
research is needed to investigate the relationships between the activation of cervical mechanoreceptors and dizziness pathomechanisms. Int J Occup
Med Environ Health. 2019;32(5):723–33