Monday, May 1, 2017

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.

  1. Eye Exercises:
    1. Look up, then down - at first slowly, then quickly - 20 times
    2. Look from one side to the other - at first slowly, then quickly - 20 times
    3. Focus on finger at arm's length moving one foot closer and back again - 20 times
  2. Head Exercises:
    1. Bend head forward, then backward with eyes open - slowly, later quickly - 20 times
    2. Turn head from one side to other side - slowly, then quickly - 20 times
    3. As dizziness decreases, these exercises should be done with eyes closed.
  3. Sitting:
    1. While sitting shrug shoulders - 20 times
    2. Turn shoulders to right, then to left - 20 times
    3. Bend forward and pick up objects from ground and sit up - 20 times
  4. Standing:
    1. Change from sitting to standing and back again - 20 times with eyes open
    2. Repeat with eyes closed
    3. Throw a small rubber ball from hand to hand above eye level.
    4. Throw ball from hand to hand under one knee
  5. Moving About:
    1. Walk across room with eyes open, then closed - 10 times
    2. Walk up and down a slope with eyes open, then closed - 10 times
    3. Walk up and down steps with eyes open, then closed - 10 times
    4. 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.