Exercises for Vertigo and Dizziness

Exercises for Vertigo and Dizziness

PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPT.  INSTITUTE OF NEUROLOGICAL SCIENCES

COOKSEY – CAWTHORNE EXCERCISES

Instructions for Patient’s:-

The balance parts of the ears complement each other by sending equal impulses to the brain which are essential for the maintenance of the equilibrium of the head and body.

If either or both balance centres are damaged the equilibrium is upset.  The result of this is Vertigo or dizziness which may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting.  Although this condition may be very frightening it is not serious or life threatening.  It can e overcome by carrying out special exercises.

The Purpose of the exercises is to build up a tolerance mechanism in the brain which will compensate for the unequal signals coming from the mechanism and the more often and regularly they are performed, the sooner the Vertigo will clear up.

The exercises should be carried out for at least five minutes, three times daily for as long as the Vertigo persists.  This can be from one to three months.  A conscious effort should be made to seek out the head positions and movements that produce the Vertigo as far as they can b tolerated as the more often it is induced, the more quickly the brain compensation is built up.

Certain medications help to control the Vertigo while the brain compensation is being achieved and these should be taken regularly as prescribed during the course of exercises.

As normal a life as possible is recommended in the meantime.  An early return to work, sport and hobbies are helpful in rehabilitation.  Perseverance is required but the earlier and more regularly the

balance exercises are carried out, the quicker and more compete will be the recovery to normal activity.

EXERCISES

 LYING

 

1. Relax head, neck and shoulders. (Shrugging and circling shoulders will help to produce this).

 

2. Eye movement – up and down, side to side, forwards and backwards, slowly then quickly.

 

3. Head movements – roll from side to side, forwards and backwards, slowly then quickly. Repeat movements with eyes closed.

 

SITTING        

 

1. Relax, head, neck and shoulders.

 

2. Eye movements – up and down, from side to side, slowly then quickly.

 

3. Head movements – forwards and backwards, from side to side, slowly then quickly. Repeat movements with eyes closed.

 

4. Bend forward to lift objects off the floor.

 

5. Pick object off the floor and then twist to place it behind you, first to the left and then to the right.

 

6. Ask someone to throw a ball to you, above the head and side to side.

 

STANDING

 

1. Relax, head, neck and shoulders.

 

2. Eye movements – up and down, from side to side, slowly then quickly.

 

3. Head movements – forwards and backwards, from side to side, slowly then quickly. Repeat movements with eyes closed.

 

4. Bend forward to lift objects off the floor.

 

5. Change from sitting to standing with eyes open, repeat with eyes closed.

 

6. Ask someone to throw a ball to you, above the head and side to side.