Firat Kesgin Debating Cervicogenic Dizziness

Download the FREE Physiotutors App 📲: https://physiotutors.app Get 3 months free of WriteUpp's Practice Management Software. Visit: https://writeupp.com/physiotutors for more Summary In this episode, Firat Kesgin, founder of the German Institute for Vestibular Rehabilitation, discusses the controversial topic of cervicogenic dizziness. He challenges the validity of this diagnosis, arguing that dizziness often associated with neck pain and limited cervical mobility should not be considered a distinct disorder. Kesgin references the Barani Society’s stance, which suggests that the connection between cervical issues and dizziness lacks high-quality evidence. He explains that patients with vestibular disorders often restrict head movement, leading to neck problems over time, which can be mistaken for cervicogenic dizziness.Kesgin emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and the risks of relying on exclusion-based diagnoses. He highlights the need for specialized knowledge in vestibular disorders to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments. The discussion also touches on the psychological aspects of dizziness, comparing it to chronic pain conditions where the central nervous system plays a significant role. Kesgin advocates for a more comprehensive understanding of vestibular disorders and cautions against simplistic mechanical explanations for complex symptoms. Guest Firat is the founder of the German Institute for Vestibular Rehabilitation and has been teaching postgraduate courses throughout Europe. His work focuses on helping clinicians better understand and treat patients with dizziness and balance disorders. Alongside his clinical and teaching work, Firat is currently pursuing a PhD on the standardization of BPPV testing and the implementation of structured vestibular rehab programs in outpatient care. Chapters 00:00:00 Intro 00:01:22 Why “cervical dizziness” isn’t a valid diagnosis 00:03:36 Neck pain/limited ROM as consequences of vestibular issues 00:04:26 Sponsor: WriteUpp 00:06:00 Temporal link to neck pain doesn’t prove causation 00:08:15 Does treating the neck fix dizziness? Short-term vs long-term 00:10:51 Risks of diagnosis by exclusion 00:12:24 Diagnostic gaps in routine ENT practice 00:14:20 No specific test: is that enough to reject it? 00:16:59 Vestibular migraine vs “cervical dizziness” 00:20:51 Sponsor: Physiotutors Premium 00:21:27 Common mislabels: BPPV, hypofunction, and 3PD 00:25:45 Cervical proprioception: acute vs chronic relevance 00:32:32 Interpreting cervical torsion and SPNT tests 00:36:53 Sponsor: Physiotutors Courses 00:37:55 Parallels with chronic low back pain 00:38:41 Why the research persists and biomechanical bias 00:45:19 Clinical guidance for dizzy patients with neck pain 00:46:54 Myth-busting: negative ENT and psychology factors 00:49:23 Closing thoughts 00:50:33 Where to find Firat 00:51:19 Outro Bonus Material Download the referenced transcript including PubMed Links and a high-resolution infographic on this episode as part of your Physiotutors membership on the Physiotutors App. ------ This is not medical advice! The content is intended to be educational only for health professionals and students. If you are a patient, seek care of a health care professional.