Vertigo isn’t a medical condition, but rather a sensation that’s often a symptom of inner ear disorders, infections or brain injuries. It refers to feeling like you’re spinning, or like your surroundings are spinning. If this sensation isn’t addressed, it can have an impact on your overall quality of life.
Physical therapists use exercises to improve many challenges in a person’s life, including vertigo. By practicing the right physical therapist-approved exercises through vestibular rehab, you can reduce your vertigo and co-occurring symptoms, such as difficulty walking and nausea.
3 exercises used by physical therapists to help vertigo
Vertigo is often described as dizziness. When you’re feeling dizzy, you’re at risk of falling and sustaining an injury. However, with the right exercises, a physical therapist can reduce the occurrence rate, duration and severity of vertigo. They can increase your balance and stability and retrain your brain to combat the dizziness.
A physical therapist will teach you exercises during your sessions that you can complete in between appointments and after completing your treatment to sustain your progress. These exercises are also often practiced while vertigo or dizziness is occurring.
If your vertigo stems from an issue in one ear, your physical therapist will let you know in which direction to complete the exercises, such as turning your head to the left if you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo in the left ear.
Here are three exercises they may recommend:
- Half somersault — Place your knees and hands on the floor. Lean your head down until your forehead touches the floor while keeping your knees tucked toward your chin. Turn your head approximately 45 degrees so that you’re looking at your elbow. Hold that position for up to 30 seconds, or as directed by your physical therapist, before lifting your head back up while keeping your head at the same angle. Hold it for up to 30 seconds before returning your head to the starting position.
- Brandt-Daroff — Sit on the floor in an upright position before lying on your side. Turn your head until your nose is at a 45-degree angle. Stay in that position for up to 30 seconds before sitting back up. If you’re completing the exercise while experiencing vertigo, stay in the position until the symptoms stop before sitting back up to the starting position.
- Epley maneuver — Sit on an exam table, or in bed if you’re practicing at home. Extend your legs in front of you. Turn your head 45 degrees before quickly lying back until your head hits the pillow or cushion. Wait for any dizziness to go away, and stay in that position for 30 seconds. Turn your head to a 90-degree angle toward the other side and hold it for 30 seconds before turning the rest of your body so that you’re on your side. Wait for any dizziness to go away, and stay in that position for 30 seconds before sitting up.
At Excel Sports and Physical Therapy, we can guide you through safe and effective physical therapy exercises for vertigo. Call us or request an appointment today.
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