You stand up from your chair, and the room seems like it’s spinning around you. You might even feel like you’re about to lose your balance. If this is a common scenario for you, you’re dealing with a condition called vertigo. Vertigo can be caused by inner ear issues, nerve damage from strokes and other problems, and it can make normal daily activities like walking or driving difficult or even dangerous. Fortunately, there are two physical therapy exercises people in El Paso, Texas, can use to treat vertigo.
1. Eye movement
Cawthorne exercises are a technique that physical therapists often use when treating vertigo, and this therapy method involves moving your eyes, head and body in various ways. One example of these exercises is the eye movement exercise.
You can do this exercise while seated or standing up, but you may want to start out by doing them seated because this makes it easier to deal with any vertigo the exercise may cause. To begin this exercise, center your head over your shoulders and sit up straight. Position your eyes so that you’re staring straight ahead, and then slowly move your eyes to the left.
Return your eyes to the straight-ahead position, and then slowly move them right, up and down, being sure to return to the neutral position after looking in each direction. As your body gets used to these movements, you can speed them up, and they’re most effective if performed multiple times per day.
2. Head movement
Another physical therapy exercise used for vertigo is the head movement exercise. This is another of the Cawthorne exercises, and it’s designed to help your body learn to deal with vertigo symptoms from moving your head.
Like the eye movement exercise, the head exercise should be done seated the first time you try it. The home position for this exercise is to have the spine straight and the head centered over the shoulders. From this position, slowly tilt your head to the left like you’re trying to touch your left ear to your shoulder. Still moving slowly, return your head to the home position. If this movement causes vertigo, wait until the sensation passes before moving on. If you feel fine, move your head to the right, and then tilt it up and down. Between each movement, make sure you return to the home position. Try to do five repetitions in each direction during one session, and repeat this exercise several times throughout the day.
Other physical therapy techniques for vertigo can be found at Border Therapy Services
Border Therapy Services has several clinics in the El Paso area, and our team can help you find effective physical therapy for vertigo and other issues affecting your balance. We’re committed to building a personalized treatment plan for you, and this plan will be designed to treat the root cause of your issue as well as its symptoms.
Contact our team today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment to get help treating your balance issue.