St. Joseph's Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic - Home Vestibular Exercise Program to Overcome Dizziness

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Home Vestibular Exercise Program to Overcome Dizziness

Aims of exercise:

1.		To loosen up the muscles of the neck and shoulders, to overcome the protective muscular spasm and tendency to move "in one piece."
2.		To train movement of the eyes, independent of the head.
3.		To practicing balancing in everyday situations with special attention to developing the use of the eyes and the muscle senses.
4.		To practice head movements that cause dizziness, and thus gradually overcome the disability.
5.		To become accustomed to moving about naturally in daylight and in the dark.
6.		To encourage the restoration of self-confidence and easy spontaneous movement.

All exercises are started in exaggerated slow time and gradually progress to more rapid time. The rate of progression from sitting to standing exercises depends upon the dizziness in each individual case. Perform the exercises at least twice daily.

Sitting Position: without arm rests:

1.		Eye exercise - at first slow, then quickly, 20 times. a) up and down b) side to side c) repeat a and b, focusing on finger at arm's length.
2.		Head exercises - at first slow, then quickly, 20 times (see a and b above).
3.		Shrug shoulders and rotate, 20 times.
4.		Bend forward and pick up objects from the ground, 20 times.
5.		Rotate head and shoulders slowly, then fast, 20 times.
6.		Rotate head, shoulders and trunk with eyes open, then closed, 20 times.

Standing:

7.		Repeat number 1.
8.		Repeat number 2.
9.		Repeat number 3.
10.		Change from a sitting to a standing position, with eyes open, then shut.
11.		Throw a ball from hand to hand (above eye level), 10 times.
12.		Throw a ball from hand to hand under knees, 10 times.
13.		Change from a sitting to standing position and turn around in between, 10 times.
14.		Repeat number 6.

Walking:

15.		Walk across the room with eyes open, then closed, 10 times.
16.		Walk up and down a slope with eyes open, then closed, 10 times.
17.		Do any games involving stooping, or stretching and aiming, such as bowling, shuffleboard, etc.
18.		Stand with one foot in front of the other with eyes open, then closed.
19.		Walk with one foot in front of the other with eyes open, then closed.

NOTE: Exercises often make dizziness worse in the beginning before the dizziness gets better.

St. Joseph's Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic • Thomas R. deTar, MD • M. Erik Gilbert, MD