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Balance Training Exercises
Ear-Body Coordination Exercises

 

Your doctor has determined that you have a balance problem that may improve with a rehabilitation program. Head motion stimulates the balance canals of the inner ear. Like a figure skater just learning to spin on skates, you can expect it to take some time for your balance to improve. The brain must learn to overcome the feeling of dizziness. Virtually all patients using these exercises will not improved balance, but it may take a few weeks. Don't give up! It is important to start slowly because quick head movements can make anyone lightheaded at first. Slowly increase the speed and duration of exercises as tolerated. It is common for people to become dizzy during some of these exercises; this is a required part of the healing process. As in athletics: no pain, no gain.

Exercises

These should be repeated 10 times per day as tolerated. Make sure to have someone there to catch you should you start to fall.

1. Stand on a soft (compressible) surface with your eyes open for one minute. Keep shifting your weight from your left leg to your right leg.

2. Stand on a flat (firm) surface with your eyes open for one half minute. Rock back and forth about the ankle without bending at the hip.

3. Stand on a flat (firm) surface in a corner with your back against a wall. Keep your eyes closed for one minute.

4. In the corner, practice standing on your heels and then your toes with your eyes open for one half minute.

5. Walk across the room (with your partner) with eyes open, then again with them closed. Walk up and down steps with eyes open, then closed. Walk up and down a slope with eyes open, then closed. Perform these 10 times per day.

6. Try dancing carefully with a partner, performing frequent turns and bends.