Return to: BPPV Patient Handout
Exercises
These exercises are to be carried out for 15 minutes twice a day, increasing to 30 minutes.The earlier and more regularly these exercises are practiced, the faster and more likely complete the recovery.
- Eye Exercises:
- Look up, then down - at first slowly, then quickly - 20 times
- Look from one side to the other - at first slowly, then quickly - 20 times
- Focus on finger at arm's length moving one foot closer and back again - 20 times
- Head Exercises:
- Bend head forward, then backward with eyes open - slowly, later quickly - 20 times
- Turn head from one side to other side - slowly, then quickly - 20 times
- As dizziness decreases, these exercises should be done with eyes closed.
- Sitting:
- While sitting shrug shoulders - 20 times
- Turn shoulders to right, then to left - 20 times
- Bend forward and pick up objects from ground and sit up - 20 times
- Standing:
- Change from sitting to standing and back again - 20 times with eyes open
- Repeat with eyes closed
- Throw a small rubber ball from hand to hand above eye level.
- Throw ball from hand to hand under one knee
- Moving About:
- Walk across room with eyes open, then closed - 10 times
- Walk up and down a slope with eyes open, then closed - 10 times
- Walk up and down steps with eyes open, then closed - 10 times
- Any game involving stooping, stretching, and turning (ex: bowling, basketball) is good
References
Dix MR. The rationale and technique of head exercises in the treatment of vertigo. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Belg. 1979;3(3):370-84.
Herdman SJ. Canalith repositioning maneuver. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1994;111(5):691-692.