Vertigo is often confused with dizziness but it is much more severe. People with vertigo, usually caused by damage to your inner ear, experience a strong sensation that everything around them is moving and spinning, which causes them to lose balance and fall over. Cawthorne exercises were developed in London in the 1940s specifically for treating patients who suffer from the symptoms of vertigo. Cawthorne exercises should be practiced for one hour every day until the symptoms subside.
Eye Exercises
Step 1
Slowly look up and down. Do this a total of 20 times. Each time, do it a little faster.
Step 2
Look from one side of the room to the other without moving your head. Do this 20 times, starting off slowly and gradually do it faster.
Step 3
Hold one finger in front of you at arm's length. Focus on it with your eyes and slowly move it toward you, following it with your eyes. Do this 20 times.
Head Exercises
Step 1
Standing or sitting, slowly bend your head forward and then backward while keeping your eyes open. Do this 20 times.
Step 2
Slowly turn your head side to side while keeping your eyes open, 20 times. Each time you do it, try to do it a little faster.
Step 3
Repeat each head exercise 20 times with your eyes closed. Only do this once your dizziness has improved.
Sitting Down Exercises
Step 1
Shrug your shoulders 20 times.
Step 2
Twist your shoulders from left to right 20 times.
Step 3
Place some objects on the ground. Sitting in a chair, bend over and pick the objects up. Repeat this 20 times.
Standing Exercises
Step 1
Sit down and stand up 20 times with your eyes open.
Step 2
Toss a tennis ball back and forth from one hand to the other 20 times, keeping your hands above eye level and your eyes open.
Step 3
Stand up straight and slowly turn around 360 degrees in the same spot 20 times, keeping your eyes open.
Step 4
Repeat all of the standing exercise with your eyes closed once your balance has improved.
Moving Exercises
Step 1
Walk from one side of the room to the other 20 times with your eyes open.
Step 2
Walk up and down an incline, such as a steep hill or ramp, 20 times with your eyes open.
Step 3
Walk up and down a staircase 20 times with your eyes open.
Step 4
Repeat all of the moving exercises with your eyes closed once your balance has improved.
Tips and Warnings
- Break up exercises into short sessions and spread them out over the day. Always begin slowly and work your way up. Have an assistant help you while you are performing your exercises, especially when you are doing them with your eyes closed. Once your balance has improved and you are able to do the standing and moving exercises with ease, start playing games, such as tennis and basketball, which require hand-eye coordination and balance.
- Do not attempt any exercises with your eyes closed if you do not feel confident that you can do them. Do not attempt any standing or moving exercises with your eyes closed without the aid of an assistant because you may fall and injure yourself. Do not try to do any exercises too quickly. Do not attempt any exercises in the dark.
Things You'll Need
- Small objects
- Tennis ball
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