Vestibular Retraining Exercises

If you have vestibular issues, then you probably suffer from dizziness, motion sickness, difficulty walking, trouble focusing, vertigo and other symptoms. A major cause of vestibular issues is inner ear disturbances, but eye problems, head trauma and even medications can cause challenges. If you participate in low-impact exercise like walking, cycling or Tai Chi classes, you have better general fitness. You can also engage in a variety of retraining exercises to improve specific symptoms and provide more confidence.

Vestibular Habituation

• Vestibular habituation means re-creating movements that cause symptoms and tolerating them until they no longer produce symptoms. Sometimes tools like the Wii system or balls are used and sometimes you do these without them. Exercises taken from the Cawthorne-Cooksey protocol are: sitting in a chair and bending to pick up objects, walking with eyes open and closed, tossing a ball from one hand to the other, and circling around an object. A physical therapist can design a specific program with at-home exercises that will treat your condition and symptoms.

Head-Eye

• In many of these exercises, your head turns while your body remains still. You will likely perform the exercises seated, especially at first. You might hold an object like an index card with a letter written on it, a face card from a deck of cards, or a ball in front of you. You will practice turning your head while your eyes remain focused on the letter or picture; going side to side several times. You may change the speed of your movement, but still keep the object in focus while doing so.

Balance Retraining

• Balance retraining exercises help the body and eyes to practice working together to create balance in many standing positions. Exercises like ankle sways, standing on one leg, standing on tiptoes and ball diagonals are effective for retraining balance. You need to have a chair, table or spotter close by so that if the exercise fails, you can catch yourself without falling to the ground.

Gait Exercises

• These exercises involve walking with a specific purpose. You may be walking and maintaining your gaze on a specific point, turning your head from side-to-side as you walk or looking up and down as you move. Walking on different surfaces and terrains can retrain the vestibular system. Transitioning from concrete to carpet is a good way to practice steadying your gait.

Canalith Repositioning

• These exercises remove debris (called crystals or "rocks") from the ear so that the dizziness subsides. Usually these are performed with assistance from a medical professional. You will be on your back on a table and your head will turn at specific angles. You may have one or more treatments to eliminate symptoms.