Nestled in the inner ear is a complex network of organs and nerves called the vestibular system. The vestibular system is responsible for helping you maintain your balance, keep spatial orientation and coordinate your eye movement.
It plays a crucial role in your daily life, enabling you to navigate your surroundings, keep stability and perceive motion. When your vestibular system becomes impaired, it can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:
Dizziness
Vertigo
Nausea
Difficulty walking
This is where vestibular rehabilitation comes in. Vestibular rehabilitation uses specific exercises to help retrain your brain and body so you can regain your balance and move with confidence again. In this guide, we’ll dive into the importance of the vestibular system, what happens when it’s not working properly and some key exercises that can help you feel more stable.
What happens when your vestibular system gets out of whack?
When your vestibular system isn’t working right, it can throw your whole world off balance. One of the most common symptoms is dizziness or a sensation that the room is spinning, called vertigo. You may feel unsteady on your feet, which can make it hard to walk or even stand without feeling like you’re going to topple over. Symptoms of troubles with your vestibular system can be due to issues such as:
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Meniere’s disease
Migraines
Inner ear infections
Vertigo
Labyrinthitis
Vestibular neuritis
Stroke
Risk of falling
Living with vestibular dysfunction can make it hard to do everyday activities. Something as simple as getting out of bed or walking through a grocery store can become frustrating and exhausting. If left untreated, these issues can lead to falls or injuries. That’s why it’s important to start addressing the problem early, and vestibular rehabilitation is a great way to do that.
What are vestibular rehabilitation exercises and how do they work?
Vestibular rehabilitation exercises are designed to help your brain and body work together to restore your sense of balance. These exercises are used by physical therapists who specialize in vestibular issues, and they focus on retraining the brain to better process the signals it’s getting from your inner ear, eyes and muscles.
Different exercises are used depending on your specific symptoms. Some help improve gaze stabilization, which is your ability to focus on an object while moving your head around. Others focus on improving your balance by challenging you to do tasks that require coordination, like standing on one leg or walking while turning your head. These exercises encourage your brain to adjust to new movements and stimuli. Ultimately, these exercises should help you feel steadier and more comfortable doing your everyday activities.
4 vestibular exercises and how to do them
Here are some vestibular rehabilitation exercises that your physical therapist may recommend. These can be done at home, but make sure you’ve been shown how to properly do them first.
Gaze stabilization — Sit or stand comfortably and hold a small object, like a pen, at arm’s length from you. Keep your eyes focused on the object while slowly moving your head from side to side. Try to keep the object in focus without feeling dizzy. This exercise helps train your brain to stabilize your gaze while your head’s moving, which can reduce dizziness in everyday activities.
Standing balance exercises — Stand with your feet together, arms at your sides, and close your eyes. Try to keep your balance for several moments. For more of a challenge, try standing on one foot or on a soft surface, like a pillow. This exercise can help improve your balance by making your body work harder to stay steady in different positions.
Walking with head turns — Walk in a straight line while slowly turning your head from side to side. Focus on keeping your balance as you walk, even while turning your head. This exercise can help you get used to walking while moving your head, something you do all the time without realizing it.
Brandt-Daroff exercise — Sit on the edge of your bed or couch. Quickly lie down on your side with your head turned 45 degrees upward and hold for several moments. Then, return to a sitting position and repeat on the other side. This exercise can help reduce vertigo by moving tiny particles in your inner ear that may be causing dizziness.
It’s essential to do these exercises under the guidance of a health care professional. Doing them with incorrect technique may make your symptoms worse.
When should you stop doing these exercises?
It’s natural to feel a little off balance or dizzy when you start vestibular exercises — after all, your brain is learning how to adapt. But there are certain times you should stop and check in with your physical therapist or doctor. It’s time to take a break if you experience any of the following:
Prolonged dizziness that doesn’t go away after resting
Intense nausea or vomiting
Severe headaches
A sudden loss of balance that causes you to fall or almost fall
Blurred or double vision
Your physical therapist will monitor your progress and adjust your exercises if needed to make sure you’re staying safe. Follow their advice, and don’t push yourself too hard. The goal is to make steady progress.
Get your balance back with vestibular rehabilitation exercises at KC Rehab
At KC Rehab, we understand how frustrating vestibular problems can be, and we’re here to help you regain your balance and confidence. Our vestibular rehabilitation program is tailored to your unique needs. Your physical therapist will create a treatment plan with personalized exercises designed to improve your stability and reduce symptoms like dizziness and vertigo. Whether you’re dealing with vertigo or balance issues, our team of compassionate, expert physical therapists is ready to guide you through a plan that works for you.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.
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