Post Fave VRT exercise - Inner Ear Disorders Message Board

depflephc · 04-27-2005, 12:23 PM

mine is the closed eyes whilst balancing on foot one ... but thats the only one i know !

if you post one also post how you do it !

firechick · 04-28-2005, 07:27 AM

I like the eyes closed on one foot also (try it with your arms folder so you can't use your arms to balance when you need more of a challenge).
But I have a wobble board, it is a round one with a half ball under it. I stand on it when I am on the phone and see how long I can stay up without the sides touching the ground.
My friend had me walking in a straight line, heel of one foot touching toe of other foot, like a sobriety test the cops do on the side of the road. Do this with your eyes closed. This was hard for my friend to do with no inner ear problems. When I first had the infection did it I was falling all over the place.
These are more balance drills than what I think most VRT concentrates on, it appears from reading that the drills are more head movements and focusing on items etc.

quincy · 04-28-2005, 12:46 PM

I think the balance drills can be waaaay more beneficial than the constant head repetative exercises.

I like the idea of the balance board. As well, standing on one foot with eyes closed. Doing it with arms closed would send me toppling for sure!!

I think when the vestibular system is out of whack, we really tend to not be so sure-footed as well...like the nerve/brain connections and muscles get weaker. There were days when I was at my worst when my walking would be stilted....like I had MS. I got really scared, but the doc explained it's all connected. Separating the training (balance with vestibular when symptomatic) is a good way to go. I think when not symptomatic...as we normally age, the physical balance gets naturally weaker -- the muscles. Toning that would be beneficial for anyone.

I had considered the wobble board for purchase.....Now that it's been mentioned again....I'll make the purchase this week.

Be well,
quincy

firechick · 04-28-2005, 04:25 PM

I think it's a great idea to buy a wobble board Quincy.
I got lucky and bought mine for pennies at a garage sale, and the timing was perfect for me. My kids love it too, we have little contests to see how long we can stay on it. The only thing I really struggle with is standing on it with my eyes closed, but then nobody in my house has managed it yet so I don't feel so bad.
I totally relate to your description of the stilted walking, I had that initially after my bad BPPV attack last summer. I would walk very gingerly and every third or fourth step I would have to take a jerky outside step to rebalance myself. Thankfully that stage is over and now I think working on my balance, no matter how I am doing vestibularily (is that a word?) will only benefit.
It brings new meaning to "being more centered"