Exercising With Vertigo

Vertigo

What is Vertigo? 

Vertigo is a sensation that you or your surroundings are moving when there is no actual movement. You may feel as though you are spinning, whirling, falling, or tilting. Severe vertigo may cause you to feel nauseated and vomit.

What Causes Vertigo? 

Vertigo occurs when there is conflict between the signals sent to the brain by various balance- and position-sensing systems of the body. Common causes of vertigo include:

• Inner ear disorders, such as BPPV, Ménière's disease, vestibular neuritis, or labyrinthitis.

• Injury to the ear or head.

• Migraine headaches, which are painful, often occur with vertigo, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise, and smell.

• Decreased blood flow through the arteries that supply blood to the base of the brain (vertebrobasilar insufficiency).

Exercising With Vertigo 

Trying to exercise can be quite frustrating when you suffer from vertigo. Even trying to get through a normal can be challenging when you are constantly wait for the world to stop spinning. If vertigo is a persistent problem for you, and no medication or treatments are working. There are several exercises for vertigo that can help decrease vertigo and dizziness. Be sure to consult with your physician before starting any exercise program:

Eye Exercises:

• Look up, then down. First, slowly, and then, quickly.

• Look from side to side. First, slowly, and then, quickly.

• Focus on your finger at arm’s length. Move your finger from side to side, keeping your eyes focused on the finger.

Head Exercises:

• Bend your head forward, and then backward with eyes open. First, slowly, and then, quickly.

• Turn your head from side to side. First, slowly, and then, quickly.

• As your dizziness improves, these head exercises can be done with your eyes closed.

Sitting:

• In sitting, shrug your shoulders.

• Turn your shoulders from side to side.

• Bend forward and pick up objects from the ground. Then, sit up.

Standing:

• From sitting, stand up. Sit down again. Do this with eyes open.

• Repeat with your eyes closed.

• In standing, pass a small rubber ball from one hand to the other under one knee.

Walking:

• Walk across the room with your eyes open. Repeat this with your eyes closed.

• Walk up and down a slope with your eyes open. Repeat this with your eyes closed.

• Walk up and down stairs with your eyes open. Repeat this with your eyes closed.

* All information and exercises are from sitandbefit