Although there are 3 methods to treat dizziness: medication, surgery, and physical exercise, the exercise method is commonly used for patients with dizziness related to movement, such as when turning the head quickly. It is also used for dizziness lasting more than 1-2 months and other appropriate cases.
What you should know… before exercising
- There should be a watcher or assistant during the exercise
- The exercise area should be free of objects that may cause harm
- Do not modify the exercise positions yourself as it may cause ineffective treatment
- Exercise for 15-30 minutes each time, as many times a day as desired (at least 2 times)
- Be patient to see results after 1-2 weeks or more
Exercise positions… to reduce dizziness
- Eye and neck muscle exercises (sitting)
- Look up and down repeatedly 20 times, rest, then look left and right 20 times slowly, then faster. When proficient, look and move your head at the same time, for example, look right and turn right, look up and tilt your head back
- Look at your own index finger, then move your hand closer by 1 foot and back to the original position. Do 20 times
- Close your eyes, bow your head deeply as if nodding, then tilt your head backward. Do 20 times
- Turn your head left, center, right 20 times with eyes open during the exercise
- Tilt your right ear close to your right shoulder, center, then tilt your left ear close to your left shoulder, center 20 times with eyes open during the exercise
- Exercises to stimulate the entire balance system (5 – 10 minutes)
- Stand in the corner of the room with an assistant behind you, feet together, rotate your head as shown in the picture 15-20 times
- Rotate your whole body back and forth (ankles still together) 15-20 times
- Stand with feet together, turn your feet toward the corner of the room, hands against the wall (if necessary). Have the assistant gently push your hips one side at a time, pushing lightly. Try to adjust your balance by yourself
- Stand in the same position, lift one knee at a time, try to stand on one leg for 5-10 seconds, alternate legs
- Exercises during dizziness (about 10 minutes)
- If the patient experiences dizziness when lying on their side, sit on the bed and sway so that the left ear touches the bed (count 1-20 then stand up and sit straight) → sit straight → right ear touches the bed (count 1-20) → then stand up and sit straight, alternate sides back and forth. Do 10 times in the morning and 10 times in the evening
- If the patient experiences dizziness when lying on their back or tilting their head back, sit on a straight chair, bend forward trying to touch the nose to the knees and hold, count 1-20 → then straighten up while tilting the ear to touch the shoulder, alternate sides back and forth. Try to hold each position for 10-20 seconds even if dizziness occurs to overcome the symptom. After repeating several times, the symptoms will decrease
- General physical exercise
This is an unsystematic exercise, but patients enjoy this method more. Choose any of the following to do for 20 minutes a day or as much as desired- Go watch sports live, such as badminton, tennis, golf, football, etc.
- Take a walk to observe birds and plants, look at the ground, look at the sky, bend to pick up objects (with assistance), practice walking on a mattress
- Play light sports you like, such as ping pong, dribbling a basketball, putting golf, etc. (swimming is prohibited)
These problems… are what the Ear, Nose, and Throat Department can help you with!!
- Dizziness or abnormal balance problems
- Hearing problems or tinnitus
- Children with speech delay, slow speech, or abnormal speech
- Facial paralysis problems
- Otitis media and other ear-related issues
