Date: Tue Jul 23, 2002 5:25 pm

Subject: Vertigo ? Exercises for improving Balance

These are the exercises that came from my Doctor at Loma Linda University.

I promised to send them to someone long ago. Just now found it.

Lawana (see below)

AIMS OF EXERCISE

1. To loosen up the muscles of the neck and shoulders to overcome the

protective muscular spasm and tendency to move "in one place."

2. To train movement of the eyes, independent of the head.

3. To practice balancing in every day situations with special attention to

developing the use of the eyes and muscles senses.

4. To practice head movements that cause dizziness and thus gradually

overcome the disability

5. To become accustomed to moving about naturally in daylight and in the

dark.

6. To encourage the restoration of self-confidence and easy spontaneous

movement.

All exercise are started in exaggerated slow time and gradually progress to

more rapid time. The rate of progression from the bed to sitting and then to

standing exercises depends upon the dizziness in each individua case.

SITTING POSITION - without armrests

1. Eye exercise - at first slow, then quickly.

a. Up and Down

b. Side to Side

c. Repeat (a) and (b), focus on finger at arms length

2. Shrug shoulders and rotate 20 times

3. Bend forward and pick up objects from the ground, 20 times.

4. Rotate head and shoulders slowly, then quickly 20 times.

5. Rotate head, shoulders and truck with eyes opened, then closed 20 times

(Head exercises-head movements at first slow, then quickly.)

STANDING

6. Repeat # 1

7. Repeat # 2

8. Repeat # 5

9. Change from sitting to standing position, with eyes opened, then shut.

10. Throw a ball from hand to hand (above eye level).

11. Throw ball from hand to hand (under knees).

12. Change from sitting to standing and turn around in between

13. Repeat #5

WALKING

14. Walk across room with eyes opened, then closed, 10 times.

15. Walk up and down slope with eyes opened, then close, 10 times

16. Do any games involving stooping or stretching and aiming, such as

bowing, shuffleboard, etc.

17. Stand on one foot with eyes opened, then closed.

18. Walk with one foot in front of the other with eyes opened, then closed.