Cervical Spine Proprioceptive Retraining

Your neck does more than hold up your head. It is packed with position sensors that help your brain know where your head is in space. When those signals are off, after whiplash, a concussion, or long-term neck pain, you can feel dizzy, unsteady, or foggy. Cervical spine proprioceptive retraining helps restore accurate signals.

Why the neck affects balance

The brain combines information from your eyes, inner ears, and neck to keep you balanced and your vision steady. Research shows that people with neck pain often have impaired neck position sense, which can contribute to dizziness, unsteadiness, headaches, and visual disturbances. This is sometimes called cervicogenic dizziness.

How we evaluate it

Joint position error testing: with your eyes closed, you return your head to a center target. We measure how far off you land.
Eye-head coordination tests to see how well your eyes and neck work together.
Balance testing with neck challenges, such as the BTrackS cervical protocol, to see how neck input affects your stability.

What retraining involves

Precise head-relocation exercises using laser or target feedback
Gaze stability and eye-head coordination drills
Balance exercises that gradually add head and neck movement
Gentle manual therapy when appropriate, as part of a complete plan

Exercises are progressed as your accuracy improves and can be continued at home.

Who it can help

Whiplash and auto accident injuries
Post-concussion syndrome with neck pain, headaches, or dizziness
Chronic neck pain with unsteadiness or visual symptoms
Cervicogenic headache

Have questions about testing?

Call 717-483-8734 or request a consultation to find out whether this testing is right for you.