Visual-Vestibular Habituation & Balance Training

In an article from Arch Intern Medicine by Yuri Agrawal et al it was observed that between 2001 and 2004 35.4% of US adults experienced some sort of vestibular dysfunction, an inner ear problem that causes vertigo, motion sickness or dizziness. When a person suffers from a visual-vestibular dysfunction he feels motion sickness based on an inner ear imbalance, but dizziness begins as the result of visual stimuli.

Visual-Vestibular Issues

• The vestibular system in the inner ear sends messages to the brain about head orientation and gravity. When visual stimuli, such as moving objects or heights, disorients the brain, a person can have a visual-vestibular dysfunction which culminates in dizziness. This is especially dangerous for seniors or those with weak bones because it can cause a person to fall. According to the Vestibular Disorders Association, balance-related falls account for over half of all accidental deaths of Americans more than 70 and 5,417,000 patients visited the doctor in 1991 due to vertigo or dizziness.

Habituation and Balance Training

• Patients who experience visual-vestibular dysfunctions due to high blood pressure, vestibular loss or other type of deterioration may not benefit from habituation and balance training. However, for most types of vestibular dysfunctions these treatments help patients handle and recover from their dizziness better than medication alone. Several balance training exercises can be performed at home and can be monitored by a family member or friend. For more exercises you can contact a physical therapist or other professional familiar with visual-vestibular treatments.

The Epley Maneuver

• The Epley maneuver uses gravity to help a person re-assess her center of balance. This exercise can be done at home and requires a person to sit upright on the ground. She then turns her head 45 degrees from the spot that feels the most dizzy and lays on her back for five minutes. She then turns her head 90 degrees to the other side and rests in this position for five minutes. She then rolls to her side and points her head to the ground for another five minutes. When she is done with this, she returns to the sitting process for thirty seconds and then repeats the entire process two more times. A person doing the Epley maneuver may experience dizziness during any or all of the above steps.

Brandt-Daroff Exercises

• Brandt-Daroff exercises also help a person re-establish balance and reorient himself. They're repeated five times, three times a day for two weeks. To do the Brandt-Daroff exercises a person first sits upright on a bed for 30 seconds with his head tilted slightly upward. He then lays flat on one side on the bed for 30 seconds and then switches to the other side for 30 seconds. Any pose can be held for longer than 30 seconds until extreme dizziness subsides.

Gaze Stabilization Exercises

• Gaze stabilization exercises help a person to refocus vision and re-establish balance. One type of exercise is best completed with a partner. The partner holds a business card directly in front of the patient's face and she looks straight on at the card, focusing on it for 10 to 20 seconds. Then she slowly turns her head to the right while maintaining focus on the card, holding her gaze for another 10 to 20 seconds. She then slowly moves her head back to a straight on gaze and then to the left, each for 10 to 20 seconds.

Balance Exercises

• Balance exercises can help increase one's agility and orientation. The balance beam is a common exercise, though this is not recommended while you are feeling dizzy. A person stands still on the balance beam until he feels comfortable and then tries slowly walking across it back and forth. If he falls off he gets up and tries again. A simpler balance exercise only requires a solid surface. A person stands straight with his eyes 30 seconds. He then lowers his leg and lifts the other leg. Once he feels comfortable with this, he tries balancing with his eyes closed.