Download Vestibular Dysfunction (Dizzy Patient Information)

VESTIBULAR DYSFUNCTION
PATIENT INFORMATION
DIZZY PATIENT INFORMATION
1. Keep active but avoid fatigue
Plan you activities and pace yourself
Get out of the house at least once a day
2. Drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water per day
Watch your diet
Limit salt and sugar intake
Keep your weight normal
3. Discuss all medications with your ENT Doctor
Avoid alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, drugs
Tranquilizers, narcotics, sleeping pills
These medications will make you more dizzy
STOP smoking.
4. Avoid rapid changes in head position
Turn side to side slowly
Get up or down slowly
5. Avoid extremes of head motion
Looking up
Turning very fast or twisting.
6. Wear flat or low-heeld shoes with firm soles.
Don’t climb ladders
7. Place rubber mats or non-skid strips in your bathtub or shower
When showering hold onto a bar or wall
Keep your eyes open at all times
Avoid tipping your head back
Sit down in the shower if needed.
8. Wear sunglasses outside in bright sunlight
Avoid fluorescent lights
Replace fluorescent bulbs with borad-sprectrum bulbs.
9.
Avoid excessive visual input
Avoid loking at busy patterns in wall paper or rugs
Don’t read in the car
10. Decrease visual input
Go slowly down grocery or shopping aisles
Take one side of an aisle at a time
Don’t go back and forth, side to side
11. Keep a night light on
Keep your path to the bathroom clear
Use solid soled slippers at night
12. Keep your home clear of obstacles
Keep phone and light cords out of the way
Keep kids toys and animal dishes out of the way
Eliminate all loose rugs, like throw rugs
13. Hold securely to support rails on stairs or escalators
Go up and down stairs slowly
Don’t look around when on stairs
Keep looking at a stationary object
14. Use caution when walking on uneven surfaces
Go slowly on rocky shorlines, icy roads, gravel, sand
Plan your path on sidewalks and parking lots.
15. If necessary, get help when walking
Use a cane
Take someone’s arm for support
16. Sit or lie down if you feel dizzy
Don’t continue what you are doing
Your safety is most important
17. Discuss driving with your ENT doctor
Safety is most important
Don’t drive if dizzy or taking medications.
18. Sit in the front seat of the car or bus
Focus on the horizon
Don’t read in the car
19. If you have sudden attacks
Don’t drive
Don’t swim
20. Try “grounding”
Let your hand glide along a wall or support
Touch furniture
Hold on to railings
21. Try “spotting”
Focus on a non-moving object when changing directions
Keep your focus if there is excessive visual input
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
University of California, Davis Medical Center
VESTIBULAR EXERCISES
GENERAL EXERCISE INFORMATION
The goal of exercise is to help your body adapt to normal movements
without making you dizzy.
First we find the most provocatiove, or dizzy producing activity you are
able to do safely. You will work on that activity until you are safe and not dizzy.
We then add more activities as you improve. You physical therapist will select the
correct activity and exercise for you.
Include an aerobic axercise program in addition to your specific vestibular
exercises. Work with your physical therapist to develop your best complete
program. A schedule of twenty minutes three times a week is a good aerobic
activity program. Safety during exercise is very important, work with your
physical therapist about safety in exercise. If you experience any back or neck
pain, stop exercising and contact your physical therapist.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, stop exercising and
contact your ENT Physician.
1. Sudden hearing loss or changes in hearing.
2. Pressure and fullness to the point of discomfort
3. Fluid draining from your ears.
4. Severe ringing in your ears
5. Any change that you are concerned about.
UCDMC ENT Otolaryngology Department (916) 734-5400
UCDMC Physical Therapy (916) 734-7039
Department of Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery
University of California, Davis Medical Center
VISUAL EXERCISES
VESTIBULAR
REPEAT EACH EXERCISE FIVE (5TIMES)
TWICE (2 TIMES) A DAY
1. Visual fixation eyes open stationary target
Slow head movements
2. Imaginary visual fixation eyes closed
Small head movements, self selected speed
3. Visual fixation eyes open stationary taraget
Fast and slow movements near targets
4. Visual fixation eyes open moving target
Opposite direction slow head movements
5. Visual fixation eyes open stationary target
Fast and slow head movements near and far targets
6. Visual fixation eyes open moving target
Slow and fast head movements
Department of Otolaryngology
Head and Neck Surgery
University of California, Davis Medical Center