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Best Vertigo Treatment Exercises

Best Vertigo Treatment Exercises

Vertigo, also known as dizziness, is a symptom of an underlying brain or ear disorder which is mainly characterized by a feeling of dizziness or that the surrounding environment is spinning. Severe occurrences of vertigo hampers one from performing daily routine activities. Vertigo may also be associated with loss of balance while walking or standing or nausea and vomiting. Vertigo increases the risk of falls and fractures resulting from falls among the elderly population. Vertigo attacks may last for a few seconds till several hours or days in severe cases. It can be controlled to a greater extent by best vertigo treatment exercisses.

What causes Vertigo / Dizziness

Several ear and brain disorders such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), Ménière’s disease, vestibular neuritis, or labyrinthitis. Vertibrobasilar insufficiency which is decreased blood circulation to the base of the brain, some severe ear or brain injuries or severe migraine headaches are also causes of vertigo / dizziness.

BPPV is a mechanical disorder of the inner ear. Excess accumulation of calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear hampers with the brain signaling process, hence its characterized by a short period of sudden vertigo and dizziness associated with changing head or neck positions. Vestibular neuritis is the inflammation of the vestibular nerve in the inner ear often associated with tinnitus and uncontrollable eye movements.

Labyrinthitis is the inflammation of the inner ear often caused by a virus. Ménière’s disease is the disorder of the inner ear which is associated with hearing loss and pressure buildup deep within the inner ear. Cervical vertigo is often caused due to neck injury or lifting heavy objects as an occupation or weight lifting.

Alcohol indulgence and over dosing on the medications can also cause temporary vertigo or dizziness. Also, alcohol withdrawal symptoms can cause the same effects.

Best Vertigo Treatment Exercises to Improve Balance & Manage Vertigo

These exercises are recommended for improving balance and decreasing dizziness caused as a result of vertigo. Most of these exercises are done in sitting posture. It is best to perform these exercises in the presence of a trained physical therapist. Often, it is advisable to check with a physical therapist specializing in vestibular diseases before beginning to perform these exercises.

People with long standing vertigo or dizziness issues shall be greatly benefited by these exercises in maintaining their normal balance and carrying out their daily routine activities.

These exercises include mainly eye, neck and head exercises.

  1. Seated Eye Exercises
  2. Seated Head Exercises
  3. Seated Neck Exercises
  4. Seated Upper Body Exercises
  5. Balancing Exercises in a Standing Posture
  6. Balancing Exercises while Walking

Seated Eye Exercises

In this exercise, look upside and then downside. Follow this eye movement by looking in the sideways direction (right and left). This needs to be done without moving the head in either directions. This needs to done in slow motion initially and then gradually fasten the pace. It needs to be done for a duration of 5 minutes.

Stretch the arm ahead while maintaining 90 degree sitting posture. Raise a finger and maintain the eyes’ focus on the raised finger. Move the finger from side to side while maintaining the focus on the finger. This can be done for another 5 minutes.

Seated Head Exercises

Move your head in the upward and the downward directions, followed by sideways direction with the eyes open. This too needs to be done initially in a slow face then at a faster pace. However, it can be done in a faster pace and with eyes closed only once the dizziness subsides.

Seated Neck Exercises

Brandt-Daroff exercise is most effective for vertigo caused by BPPV. This done by first sitting in the upright position. Then gradually lie down at one side with the nose pointing at a 45 degree angle. Remain in this position till the vertigo subsides and then it can be done in a similar manner on the other side.

Seated Upper Body Exercises

Sit in an upright manner with your arms placed on your thighs. Lift and leave your shoulders as if in a shrugging manner. Follow this by turning both the shoulders in sideways directions, once to the right and then to the left. Bend forward and then lift light objects placed on the ground and then sit back again.

Balancing Exercises in a Standing Posture

Sit in an upright manner. Then, stand up and sit back again. This needs to be done initially with eyes open. If there is no dizziness, it can be done in a same manner with eyes closed.  Following this, in a standing posture, pass a small ball from one hand to the other, passing it from under one knee while maintaining balance in standing posture.

Balancing Exercises while Walking

Walking exercises require one to safely walk across the room while maintaining proper balance. This can be tried with eyes closed, once there is assurance that the individual can safely walk across without losing balance. Till, then it can be done with eyes open. Once, walking on a plain surface is well possible, walking on a sloped surface can be tried with eyes open.

The affected individual shall require a support initially while walking on a plain slope surface. After the person is able to maintain good balance on plain slope surface with both eyes open and closed, walking on a staircase can be tried. All the above exercises need to be done under good supervision.

Tips to Consider Before Beginning these Exercises

If simple exercises have been planned to be included in the daily routine as a self therapy, its best to take note of the following tips :

  • These exercises need to be practiced for a duration of 60 minutes daily, but not all at once. They need to done in small durations throughout the day. Initially, 12 segments of 5 minutes each can be worked out, later getting to 6 segments of 10 minutes each.
  • Its better to keep track of the symptoms experienced each day once these exercises have been incorporated in the daily regime.
  • Setting an alarm as a reminder for these exercises shall be very fruitful.
  • Its always good to perform these exercises in a safe, quiet place which helps to keep oneself calm and focused.
  • Avoid trying to perform these exercises under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
  • Its always to take an opinion of the physician before trying other exercises since these exercises shouldn’t be done beyond the individual capacity.

https://www.vertigotreatment.org/post/vertigo-exercises-treatment

https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw205649

https://www.vertigotreatment.org/post/cervical-vertigo-caused-by-neck-postures

https://www.sitandbefit.org/exercises-for-dizziness-and-vertigo/



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