Neck Related Dizziness Treatment in Mineola, NY

MULLIGAN CONCEPT

Neck Related Dizziness and Nausea

Some people feel unsteady, light-headed or queasy when they turn or hold their neck in certain positions. When this comes with neck pain and stiffness, and other causes have been ruled out, it is called neck related (cervicogenic) dizziness. At Enhanced Physical Therapy in Mineola, we use Mulligan SNAGs, which randomized trials have found can reduce this type of dizziness and neck pain.

Certified Mulligan Practitioner Over 10 Years of Experience

Our clinics director is a Certified Mulligan Practitioner (CMP) with over a decade
of experience using this evidence-based approach. Each treatment is customized to
your specific diagnosis and movement limitations to achieve optimal outcomes.

Common signs of neck related dizziness and nausea

Unsteadiness or light-headedness with neck pain
Dizziness when turning your head or holding your neck still for a long time
Mild nausea with the dizziness
Feeling off balance rather than the room spinning
Neck stiffness and headaches at the back of the head

What causes it

Your neck sends constant position signals to your brain. When the upper neck is stiff, painful or injured, for example after whiplash, those signals can clash with what your eyes and inner ear report, and you may feel dizzy. Because dizziness has many possible causes, we treat it as neck related only after other causes have been checked.

How we examine it

See a doctor first for sudden or severe dizziness. In the clinic, we screen for inner ear problems such as positional vertigo, blood pressure or medication effects, and signs that the dizziness could come from blood flow or the brain. If the neck is the likely source, we test whether a gentle SNAG reduces the dizziness as you turn your head.

Mulligan techniques we use

Cervical SNAGs into rotation and extension. A gentle glide on the upper neck while you slowly move into the position that makes you dizzy. You should feel no dizziness or pain during the technique.
Self-SNAGs with a towel. A home version you do daily, as used in the research.
Headache SNAG. Used when dizziness comes with headache.

What the research says

A randomized trial of 86 people (Reid et al., Physical Therapy 2014) found Mulligan SNAGs and another mobilization method both reduced dizziness and neck pain compared with placebo, with benefits still present at 12 months. Systematic reviews support manual therapy for this type of dizziness. We do not claim SNAGs treat other causes of dizziness.

What else is in your treatment plan

Your plan includes SNAGs, a home self-SNAG, neck strengthening, eye and head coordination exercises, balance training and advice on moving safely at home.

How long recovery takes

In the trials, improvement appeared within 2 to 6 sessions. Many people notice less dizziness within a few weeks.

If you are over 65

Dizziness in older adults has many possible causes, including the inner ear, blood pressure, medications and vision, as well as the neck. We screen carefully and tell you if your dizziness needs your doctor's attention first. Because dizziness raises the risk of falls, your plan includes balance work and practical advice on moving safely at home.

When to see a doctor first

Call your doctor, or get urgent care, if you have any of the following:

Sudden or severe dizziness: see a doctor first
Dizziness with double vision, trouble speaking or swallowing, facial numbness or sudden falls: call 911
Fainting, chest pain or a racing heartbeat
Dizziness after a head injury
Room-spinning vertigo when rolling over in bed (often an inner ear problem that needs different treatment)

Neck related dizziness and nausea treatment near Mineola

Enhanced Physical Therapy is at 137 Willis Ave, Suite 100, Mineola, NY 11501, a short walk from NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island. We see patients from Mineola, Garden City, Williston Park, New Hyde Park, Carle Place, Westbury, Albertson and Manhasset, and across central Nassau County.

Frequently asked questions

Can neck problems cause dizziness and nausea?

Yes. When the upper neck is stiff or painful, some people feel unsteady or queasy. Other causes must be checked first.

How is this different from vertigo?

Vertigo is a spinning feeling, often from the inner ear. Neck related dizziness is more of an unsteady or light-headed feeling linked to neck movement.

Is treatment safe?

We screen carefully before treating. Mulligan SNAGs are gentle, controlled by you and must not bring on dizziness.

What if my dizziness is from my inner ear?

If screening points to the inner ear, we will tell you and treat it or refer you, depending on what you need.

Written and clinically reviewed by Jacob Kurian, PT, MSPT, CMP, DPT, Certified Mulligan Practitioner, Enhanced Physical Therapy, Mineola NY. Last updated October 14, 2026.

Move Better, Feel Better

If this is limiting your work, sleep or activity, call Enhanced Physical Therapy at (516) 833-5880 to book an evaluation with Jacob Kurian, Certified Mulligan Practitioner. Mulligan treatment may help reduce pain and improve movement, and we will tell you honestly what to expect.