Have you ever felt like everything is spinning around you while you are still standing? You might not be hallucinating; it can be a sign of vertigo.
Yes, it is a condition where a person feels like the surroundings are moving or spinning when they are standing or walking. Vertigo can become a frustrating and challenging situation if you witness the attacks frequently.
It is essential to take the best treatment at the earliest to make sure vertigo does not impact your lifestyle. You can get the treatment covered with your Bajaj Finserv Health card online, as it helps safeguard your financial interests in your time of need.
So, how can you treat vertigo?
That’s what we are going to talk about in this article. We will discuss different exercises that are ideal for treating vertigo and relieving its symptoms.
What Are The Types of Vertigo?
Before learning the exercises, it is essential to understand what are the different types of vertigo. There are majorly two kinds of vertigo mentioned below:
- Peripheral Vertigo: This type of vertigo is caused due to an issue in your vestibular nerve or inner ear. About 93% of cases fall under the peripheral. It would be better to consult your ENT specialist in Pune before starting any exercise.
- Central Vertigo: As the name suggests, central vertigo is caused when you have issues in the brain. As your reactions and visuals directly connect to your brain, vertigo is also majorly dependent on damage in the brain. However, central vertigo is a rare condition.
It is essential to understand that exercises are only used to treat the peripheral case caused due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
It occurs when calcium carbonate in crystallized form from one part of the ear goes into the semi-circular canal of the inner ear. The exercises are designed to distribute these crystals in both ears.
Both central and peripheral vertigo that has not resulted from BPPV cannot be treated with exercises. Hence, make sure you consult a specialist before opting for any exercise.
Types Of Exercises You Can Try
Majorly there are four types of exercises that are effective to treat vertigo caused by BPPV. We have listed those exercises along with the correct method to perform them. Do watch videos of these exercises to understand them better.
1. Brandt-Daroff Exercises
It is the most popular exercise meant for vertigo. Brandt-Daroff exercises typically use gravity in dislodging the crystals from your semi-circular canal.
Here are the steps you need to follow:
- Sit on your bed with feet on the floor. Now turn your head 45 degrees right.
- Try lying down to the left side without moving your head. Wait until the dizziness gets past, then wait for another 30 seconds. If you are no longer feeling dizzy, then hold for 30 seconds more.
- Now turn your head to the left and repeat steps two and three on your right side.
- After completing, return to your initial position and hold for 30 seconds.
- You need to complete five sets of these steps on each side.
Wait till the dizziness is over before standing up. Repeat the exercise every day.
2. Semont Maneuver
It is yet another BPPV exercise that takes less time than Brandt-Daroff exercises. Here are the steps if you have left-ear BPPV:
- Sit on the edge of your bed and turn your head 45 degrees to your right.
- Now gently drop to your left till your head touches the bed. Hold there for at least 1 minute.
- Now quickly move your whole body to the right. Try not to change the angle of your head.
- Pause for 1 minute and slowly return to the initial position.
You can change your head position to the left and drop it to the right if you have a right-ear BPPV. After performing the exercise, it is necessary to sit for 10 minutes. Try this exercise once a day for better results.
3. Epley Maneuver
This exercise may require help from your healthcare provider. However, a modernised version can be performed at home, known as the home Epley manoeuvre.
Here are the steps to follow for left-ear BPPV:
- Sit on your bed and keep your legs straight ahead. Put a pillow behind.
- Turn your head to the left (45 degrees).
- Now quickly lie back until your shoulders hit the pillow. Wait until your dizziness gets over and pause for 30 seconds.
- Turn your head 90 degrees right without lifting and pause for 30 seconds.
- Now turn your body till you are lying on the right side. Wait for the dizziness to subside and hold for 30 seconds.
After performing the exercise, make sure that you sit upright for at least 15 minutes. Perform the exercise every day until you see a difference in your symptoms.
Try the exercise in the opposite direction if you have right-ear BPPV.
4. Foster Maneuver
Also known as half somersault, it is one of the easy-to-do vertigo exercises. You don’t have to be in bed or seek help from others.
Here are a few quick steps:
- Kneel and put your hands on the floor. Turn your head up and back; now wait until dizziness is over.
- Bring your forehead to the floor and tuck your chin towards your knees.
- Now turn your head 45 degrees and face the left elbow. Hold the position for 30 seconds.
- Slowly raise your head till it levels with your shoulders and back. Pause for 30 seconds.
- At last, raise your head in an upright position.
You can try this exercise at least five times a day for better relief.
The Bottom Line
Vertigo can create a problematic situation for you in different circumstances. Instead of living in pain forever, it is better to get it treated with the right solution.
If your vertigo is caused due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), you can seek help from these exercises and improve your situation.
The above-mentioned were four major exercises that specialists suggest to vertigo patients. Make sure to consult your doctor to select the ideal exercise for your condition.
