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Tinnitus Exercises

Tinnitus is a condition characterized by a consistent noise in one or both ears, even though no external noise is present. The most common sounds heard by tinnitus patients include ringing, buzzing, clicking, hissing, roaring or whistling. Tinnitus is commonly caused by damage to the hearing nerve in the inner ear, which can be caused by exposure to loud noise, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome and old age. Although there is no specific treatment for tinnitus, there are a few exercises that can be done to help relieve the symptoms.

  1. Exercises

    • Jaw exercises have been known to alleviate the symptoms of tinnitus, since they help increase the flexibility of the jaw. For best results, repeat each exercise at least 10 times. For the first exercise, open your mouth slightly and place two fingers on top of the lower front teeth. Slowly open your mouth as wide as comfortable, and gently press down on your teeth with your fingers. For the second exercise, hold your chin in your palm and open your jaw slowly. Let your palm gently resist the opening movement. For the third exercise, look in a mirror and watch the position of your two center teeth as you bite down. Continue to watch these two teeth as you open your mouth. The goal is to keep your lower jaw centered as you open your mouth. For the fourth exercise, open your jaw about 1 inch wide. Slowly shift the lower jaw to the right, without opening your jaw any farther. Then, return to the center, and gently shift the lower jaw to the left.

      Yogic breathing exercises can also relieve the symptoms of tinnitus by regulating the inner and outer pressure on the eardrum. To do the yogic breathing exercise, begin by closing your eyes and getting into a comfortable position. Breathe slowly and deeply through your nose, holding the breath for one or two seconds. Try to push the breath into your stomach, rather than holding it in your chest. Then, exhale gently through your mouth. Aim to do at least 5 to 10 minutes of yogic breathing twice a day.

      In addition to these specific exercises, just adding regular exercise to your daily routine also helps relieve the symptoms of tinnitus. Regular exercise helps to cleanse the body of toxins and improve your body's circulation. These benefits not only relieve the symptoms of tinnitus but may even prevent tinnitus from occurring as often. Walking, jogging, dancing, biking and martial arts are effective exercises for relieving tinnitus. However, keep in mind that engaging in long periods of intense physical activity may actually worsen the symptoms of tinnitus. It is important to begin slowly and gradually increase the time and intensity of exercise.

    Considerations

    • Exercises will not always be able to help with the symptoms of tinnitus. Because tinnitus can be caused by a wide variety of conditions, not all cases can be treated through the same strategies. Before beginning an exercise regimen to treat your tinnitus, you should speak with a health-care professional to determine the exact cause of your tinnitus.

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