Dizziness

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 practice balancing in the everyday situations with special attention to developing the use of the eyes and muscle senses.

4.       To practice head movements that cause dizziness, anad 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 the bed-to-sitting to standing exercises depends upon the dizziness in each individual case.  Perform these exercises twice daily.

SITTING POSITION – WITHOUT ARM RESTS

1.       Eye Exercises – at first slow, then quick, 20 times

a.       Up and Down

b.      Side to Side

c.       Repeat A and B; focusing on finger at arms length.

2.       Head exercises – look at a fixed object and move head left and right, up and down.

a.       Head movements at first slow - 20 times

b.      Then quick – 20 times

3.       Shrug shoulders and rotate head, left to right – 20 times

4.       Bend forward and pick up objects from the ground – 20 times

5.       Rotate both head and shoulders slowly, then quickly – 20 times

6.       Rotate head, shoulders, and trunk with eyes open, then closed – 20 times

       STANDING POSITION

7.       Repeat #1

8.       Repeat #2

9.       Repeat #5

10.   Change from a sitting position to a standing position with eyes open, then eyes closed.*

11.   Throw a ball from hand to hand above eye level.

12.   Throw a ball from hand to hand below knee level.

13.   Change from a sitting position to a standing position and turn around in between.

14.   Repeat #6

                                    WALKING

15.   Walk across the room with eyes open, then eyes closed, - 10 times.*

16.   Walk up and down a slope with eyes open, then eyes closed, - 10 times.

17.   Do any games involving stooping, or stretching and aiming, such as bowling, shuffleboard, etc.

18.   Stand on one foot with eyes open, then closed.* 

19.   Walk with one foot in front of the other with eyes open, then eyes closed.*