Keeping your body in balance depends on a complex and dynamic process. Many body systems interact to monitor body position and adjust body attitude. These systems include the input senses such as the eye, the inner ear and various sensory receptors throughout the body. Sensors send information about your body position to the brain, which relays instructions to the various muscles. Your muscles then make the necessary corrections to keep your body in balance. When there is a malfunction in this process, it causes dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness and loss of balance. Vestibular exercises reduce dizziness, vertigo and other symptoms associated with balance problems.
Head Exercises
The purpose of vestibular exercises is to improve your brain's compensation for abnormalities within the balance system. According to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, vestibular head exercises reduce dizziness, improve balance and increase the ability to maintain balance in the dark.
To perform head bending exercises, start from a sitting position looking at the floor. Slowly raise your head to look at the ceiling. Keep your eyes focused on the floor as you raise your head until your eyes move to the ceiling. Slowly lower your head to look at the floor, holding your focus on the ceiling. Do this 10 times. Hold and wait for dizziness to stop. Repeat the exercise two times.
Perform side-to-side head exercises in the same manner as the head bending exercises, except move the head from side to side instead of up and down.
Standing Exercises
Standing vestibular exercises involve simple exercises similar to the head exercises. According to Dizziness-and-Balance.com, standing exercises include eye and head movements like the head and side-by-side maneuvers but also incorporate changing from sitting to standing with eyes both open and shut. Tossing a ball or throwing a ball from hand to hand improves balance and coordination, increasing confidence.
Walking Exercises
The University of Mississippi Medical Center suggests performing walking vestibular exercises exercises.
Stand next to a wall, then walk in a straight line for a few minutes placing one foot in front of the other.
Walk while combining head turns. Practice a straight line, turning your head and eyes from side to side as you walk. Continue for 20 feet. Repeat the process three times. Always perform the exercises with assistance to reduce the possibility of becoming unbalanced and falling.
