Do You Have Anxiety? Check Your Balance.
Balance Testing Isn’t Just for Dizziness
When most people picture a balance assessment, they picture someone who’s unsteady on their feet or experiencing vertigo. That’s a fair starting point, but it’s only part of the picture. At Spinewise, anxiety and depression-related concerns are actually the single most common reason patients in Maidstone and Melbourne’s west come to see us — ahead of any pain complaint. Dizziness and neurological concerns sit close behind. Looking at these two groups together raises an interesting question: could balance function be relevant to more people than we typically assume?
The Connection Between Anxiety, Mood and Balance
Research has explored links between the vestibular (balance) system and mood-related symptoms, including anxiety. Some studies point to a two-way relationship — balance dysfunction can contribute to feelings of anxiety, and in some cases, anxiety itself may influence how the balance system functions.
This is an active area of research, and it doesn’t mean balance issues cause anxiety, or vice versa, for everyone. But for people with ongoing anxiety who haven’t found a clear explanation, it can be a factor worth exploring as part of a broader assessment.
Concussion and Migraine: A Well-Established Link to Balance
Unlike the anxiety connection, the relationship between balance function and both concussion and migraine is well documented. Head injuries commonly affect the vestibular system, and many people report ongoing balance-related symptoms well after the initial injury has otherwise settled. Migraine is also frequently associated with balance disturbances, sometimes described as vestibular migraine. If you’ve had a past head injury or experience regular migraines, a balance assessment may offer useful information — even if dizziness itself isn’t your main complaint.
How We Assess Balance Function at Spinewise
Our approach starts with a detailed history and functional testing, including balance platform assessment, to understand what might be contributing to your symptoms. Practitioners trained in Applied Kinesiology (spinewise.com.au/applied-kinesiology) and Neuroemotional Technique (spinewise.com.au/neuroemotional-technique) consider the nervous system, stress response and structural factors together, rather than looking at any one system in isolation. This isn’t a treatment for anxiety, migraine or depression on its own — it’s an assessment tool that helps build a clearer picture of what’s going on, which then informs a tailored care plan.
What This Means If You Have Anxiety, Migraine or a Past Head Injury
If you fall into one of these groups and haven’t had your balance function assessed before, it may be worth discussing at your next visit — even if dizziness isn’t something you’d normally mention. It doesn’t mean balance is the cause of your symptoms, but ruling it in or out can be a useful piece of a broader picture, particularly if you’ve tried other approaches without a clear answer.
When to Get It Checked
If you’re dealing with ongoing anxiety, migraines, or you’ve had a head injury in the past, it’s worth having a thorough, functional assessment rather than assuming these things aren’t connected. Our Maidstone clinic can help identify what may be contributing to your symptoms and outline a tailored plan going forward. You can book an assessment or call us on (03) 9318 7758.
Frequently Asked Questions
Research has explored a relationship between the vestibular (balance) system and anxiety-related symptoms, though it’s an area of ongoing study and the relationship isn’t the same for everyone. It’s considered one of several factors worth exploring for people with unexplained or persistent anxiety.
Migraine is commonly associated with balance disturbances, sometimes referred to as vestibular migraine. A balance assessment can help build a clearer picture of what may be contributing to your symptoms.
Balance-related effects of a head injury can persist even after other symptoms have settled, and aren’t always obvious as “dizziness.” A functional assessment can help identify whether this is still a factor.
No referral is needed. You can book directly with our team, and we recommend bringing any relevant scans, test results or specialist reports to your first visit.
About the Author
Dr Trevor Chetcuti, B.Chiro.Sc, B.App.Sc (Clin), DIBAK, CNET
Dr Trevor Chetcuti is Clinical Director at Spinewise in Maidstone, holding dual degrees in Chiropractic and Clinical Science from RMIT University and a Teaching Diplomate in Applied Kinesiology through the International College of Applied Kinesiology (ICAK). He is chairman of ICAK International’s Board of Research and Standards and has spent over 20 years helping patients work through complex health, neurological and pain-related concerns.