Eye Habituation Exercise

If you are suffering from balance disorders or dizziness, you are not alone. According to a report by the George Washington University Medical Center in November 2009, an estimated 90 million Americans have experienced some type of dizziness at least once. Eye habituation exercises, also known as vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) has been known to help with dizzy spells and balance disorders.

Identification

• Dr. Philip E. Zapanta of the George Washington University Medical Center defines VRT as “a specific form of physical therapy designed to habituate symptoms and promote adaptation to and substitution for various aspects of deficits related to a wide variety of balance disorders.” The goals of VRT include improving balance, minimizing falls (especially in the elderly), and decreasing anxiety. VRT is performed on patients only after a lengthy assessment and evaluation process to determine symptoms and possible causes. Once initiated, a VRT program focuses on “gaze and gait stability” with a series of balance exercises.

Habituation Exercises

• There are a variety of exercises during VRT, including habituation exercises. In their article, Drs. Kevin Katzenmeyer and Jeffery Vrabec explain that before habituation exercises can begin, “the therapist must first identify the pathologic movement that causes the symptoms and develop a list of activities that reproduce the movements. These movements can be incorporated into normal daily activities so that they are performed reliably and remain interesting to the patient. They are performed twice daily unless limited by severe nausea and vomiting.” Some types of eye habituation exercises focus on moving the head while keeping the eyes focused on a stationary target. Patients will be asked to move their head from side to side, with increasing speed, while trying to keep their gaze stable on the target. As patients see improved function, the exercises can be moved to a moving target, in which a card is moved to the left while the patient is moving to the right. This “out of phase” target exercise furthers helps balance and eye stability.

Other VRT Exercises

• Other exercises are used in conjunction with habituation exercises during VRT. For example, ocular motor exercises improve eye stability through tracking moving objects, balance exercises such as tai chi are designed to improve physical stability and balance, and gait exercises help stabilize patients while walking. VRT programs are especially effective for the elderly whose balance issues could prove hazardous. If you are undergoing this type of therapy, expect your treatment to begin in an outpatient setting with a daily regimen of exercises you can do at home.

Outcomes

• According to several sources, if you can maintain your exercise program you can experience improvement in your condition within four to six weeks. It is important, however, to realize that these exercises are only started after a complex series of assessments and tests. They are specifically designed for each patient based on individual symptoms and conditions. Habituation exercises, like all therapy programs, should not be started without a physician’s recommendation.