Vertigo is a type of dizziness that makes it seem as if your environment is spinning around you. Although a medical professional should evaluate your vertigo to rule out serious causes such as a brain abnormality, certain exercises can help with the most common causes. Therapy types include canalith repositioning maneuvers and exercises to improve the coordination of eye and head movements so that your body can adapt to the vertigo.
Canalith Repositioning Maneuvers
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of recurrent vertigo according to the American Academy of Neurology, occurs when the canals in your inner ear contain calcium deposits that float around causing dizziness. In this condition, any sudden head movement may result in worsening of the vertigo. Maneuvers to manage this kind of vertigo involve specific instructions for rotation of the head so that the calcium deposits can be moved to a less sensitive part of the inner ear. To do this exercise, you should lie down with your head past the edge of your bed so that it hangs down slightly. Do not extend your neck to the point where it is uncomfortable. Turn your head about 90 degrees to the symptomatic side and stay in that position for 30 seconds. Then, turn your head to face the other direction and stay in that position for 30 seconds as well. Continue turning your head and body 90 degrees in the same direction so that you are almost facing downwards, and stay in that position for 30 seconds.
Brandt-Daroff Exercises
The Brandt-Daroff exercises are also recommended if the canalith repositioning maneuvers do not help. To do this exercise, sit on the edge of your bed then lie down on your side quickly. During this movement, keep your head at a 45-degree angle away from the bed as if you were looking up at someone standing in front of you. Stay in this position for 30 seconds or until the vertigo stops. Then, return to the sitting position for 30 seconds. This should then be repeated on the other side. These exercises can be repeated up to three times a day.
Eye and Head Movement Coordination
The Brain & Spine Foundation recommends gaze stabilization exercises that improve coordination between the eyes and the head during head movements. This exercise may help with vertigo of any cause. In this exercise, you should focus on a distant target at eye level and shake your head from side to side while continuing to focus on the target. This movement should be started slowly at first to avoid severe vertigo. Then over time, the duration of the exercise and speed of head movements may be increased as tolerated. This exercise may be repeated with your head nodding up and down as well.
