Do you have motion sickness or dizziness? Try these exercises.
Vestibular Rehab Exercises For Motion Sickness And Dizziness
In this Technique Tuesday video, Preferred Physical Therapy explains two simple vestibular rehab exercises that may help improve tolerance to motion, visual changes, and dizzy episodes. Instead of displaying a plain transcript, this section organizes the video into clear moments so readers can quickly understand each exercise and its purpose.
Video Summary
This video explains how visual input can affect the vestibular system, especially for people who experience motion sickness, dizziness, or sensitivity after a vertigo episode. The speaker demonstrates two exercises using a thumb target. One exercise keeps the hands still while the head moves side to side. The other moves the hands opposite the nose while the eyes stay fixed on the target.
Key Points Covered
- Vestibular tolerance can affect motion sickness and dizziness.
- Visual input can influence balance and spatial awareness.
- The first exercise uses a fixed thumb target while the head moves.
- The second exercise moves the hands opposite the nose.
- Both exercises should start slowly and build up over time.
Clean Video Breakdown
Welcome back to Technique Tuesday. Today, Preferred Physical Therapy continues its vestibular rehab and vestibular therapy course. The speaker explains that this month’s videos are focused on exercises that support the vestibular system.
In this video, the focus is on two exercises that may help increase vestibular tolerance for people who struggle with motion sickness, dizziness, or sensitivity after a vertigo episode.
The speaker explains that many people have felt visual motion confusion before. One example is sitting at a stoplight and feeling like your car is moving backward when the car next to you starts moving first.
This happens because visual input can influence the vestibular system. The exercises in the video are meant to help reduce that sensitivity and improve the way the body responds after dizzy or vertiginous episodes.
For the first exercise, sit up straight and place your hands out in front of you. Interlock your fingers and stack your thumbs so you have one clear target to focus on.
Drop your eyes slightly, almost like you are looking over reading glasses. Keep your eyes focused on your thumbs while gently shaking your head side to side.
The speaker explains that the movement should not be too fast or too wide. Move only about six to eight inches outside the thumb target on either side.
The recommended pace is about one back-and-forth movement every second. Moving faster can make the exercise more irritating or challenging for the vestibular system.
Start with about 30 seconds, then slowly build tolerance until you can perform the exercise for one to two minutes before taking a break.
After doing this exercise, some people may feel like they have been on roller coasters all day. The speaker notes that it may cause a headache-like or uneasy feeling, which can be normal for this type of vestibular challenge.
The speaker recommends doing this exercise later in the evening or before bed, so the body has time to calm down and relax afterward.
The second exercise uses the same stacked thumb position. Hold your hands at about shoulder height so your eyes drop down slightly to focus on the target.
This time, move your hands in the opposite direction of your nose while keeping your eyes fixed on your thumbs.
The movement should stay controlled, about six to eight inches outside your center point. Perform the exercise for 30 seconds and gradually build up to two minutes.
During the second exercise, the visual field behind you changes while your focal point stays on your hands. This can challenge the vestibular system and may feel difficult at first.
The speaker explains that many people naturally want to move their head and hands in the same direction. The goal is to keep them moving in opposite directions while maintaining focus on the thumb target.
The speaker encourages viewers to go slowly, be patient, and work up to about two minutes of exercise time.
With practice, these exercises may help improve vestibular sensitivity and support the body’s ability to manage motion sickness and dizzy episodes.
Main Takeaway: Vestibular exercises should be done slowly and with control. By practicing visual focus with head and hand movement, patients may improve tolerance to motion, dizziness, and vestibular sensitivity over time.