If you can imagine sitting in your desk chair, spinning around and still performing your daily activities, you will have an idea of what it feels like to suffer from inner ear related balance problems. Inner ear conditions such as Meniere's disease, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or an infection can trigger balance struggles. Fortunately, a few types of exercises can help to provide stability.
Inner Ear Conditions
Meniere's disease does not have any known cause or cure. If you suffer from Meniere's disease, you may experience episodes of dizziness lasting from seconds to days. Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV presents with dizziness in different positions. An inner ear infection can leave you feeling off balance until the infection clears. Another cause of dizziness is excessive fluid in the ear. A head injury, whiplash or infection are the most frequent circumstances that bring on dizziness; however your cause may not be identifiable.
Repositioning Exercises
If you experience dizziness, seek your doctor's advice. One of your doctor's suggestions may be a repositioning exercise known as the Canalith Procedure. In the doctor's office you will be moved from a seated to a reclining position with your head hanging over the table. You may experience dizziness in this position. Your head will then be turned to the side, followed by your body. Your doctor will return you to an upright position with your head slightly down. The objective is to reposition small inner ear particles that gather in one place and offset your balance.
Cardiovascular Exercises
Especially in the case of Meniere's, episodes of dizziness may be brought on by stress. One way for you to reduce stress levels is to participate in cardiovascular exercise. Cardiovascular, or aerobic, exercises involve full body movements over a time period of 20 to 30 minutes. You can choose from walking, swimming, dancing, cycling and rowing, among others. Use caution when exercising if you are in the middle of an episode.
Variations
Walking exercise variations may be helpful in restoring balance. Walking across your room with your eyes open and then again with your eyes closed will strengthen your balance system. This exercise can be done on an upward or downward slope as your balance improves. Along with walking, exercises that involved bending or stretching can also be added such as bowling or basketball.
Balance Exercises
Specific exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve balance involve standing with your feet as close together as possible. This changes your center of gravity. The challenge of this exercise may be increased by shifting your weight onto your heels or toes and eventually onto one foot. Once balance is maintained on a stable floor surface, you can increase the challenge by performing the exercise on grass or an exercise mat.
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