Vertigo is an unpleasant, incurable condition that can be caused by different factors. Exercises that involve sitting, standing, walking, moving, turning the head, and looking various ways with the eyes can sometimes help reduce the symptoms caused by vertigo. There are several exercise performed just with the head that might help ease your vertigo.
Side-to-Side Turning
One head exercise to treat vertigo is the side-to-side turning exercise. This exercise is exactly as simple as it sounds, but will likely produce feelings of dizziness. Exercises for vertigo are supposed to make you feel dizzy, but do not go so fast as to push yourself past your comfort zone. As your body adapts, you may turn your head with more speed. To do this exercise, sit in a comfortable chair, looking straight ahead. Turn your head to look right, then turn it all the way back to look left, without stopping in the middle. Go side to side 20 times, first slowly, then gradually faster. Once this exercise does not produce such strong symptoms of vertigo, keep your eyes closed throughout the exercise.
Forward and Backward Movement
This exercise follows the same guidelines as the side-to-side exercise. Instead of turning your head side to side 20 times, tilt your chin forward then bend your head backward 20 times. Do this exercise slowly and with your eyes open at first. Over time, speed up and eventually close your eyes as the exercise produces fewer feelings of vertigo.
Thumb-Tracking
The thumb-tracking exercise is so named because you use your thumb as an object to fix your gaze on as you move your head: You track your thumb with your eyes. Hold your thumb pointing up toward the ceiling, at a distance of 12 to 24 inches from your face. Focus your eyes on your thumb. Turn your head to the right, then to the left. Turn your head back to the right, then back to straight. Lift your chin to tilt your head back, but still watch your thumb. Then tilt your chin down to your chest. Perform the sequence slowly at first and then move your head more quickly as you feel comfortable.
Target Change
The target change is a head exercise that uses two targets instead of just your thumb. Choose two objects on opposite ends of a room, or far enough apart that you must turn your head to see them. Begin looking at one object, then turn to look at the other. Blink a few times, then turn back to the original object. Perform several repetitions.
