FAQ
Browse a selection of our most frequently asked questions and answers about balance and dizziness disorders. Submit your own question here.
Balance
Dizziness
If you feel more anxious when on these surfaces, here are some suggestions you could explore.
You may try to first just stand on the edge of that surface. While standing there, just notice your body. “Scan” it with your attention, all the way from the soles of your feet to your head. Notice any areas of tension and soften them if you can. Notice whether your heart is beating fast, your breathing is shallow or you are sweating. If that is happening, take some deep breaths, with a longer out-breath, like a sigh of relief. Intentionally relax and slow down. Take as much time as you need to feel calm, relaxed and safe just standing there.
Then you may also want to work on some sort of habituation to these surfaces. I’d try starting with some walking poles and see if you feel more stable and less like falling when on these types of surfaces. You’d want to try perhaps just a few steps at a time, for just as long as you feel safe. You would want to repeat this several times a week for some practice and exposure. If the process works, you should start to feel that you don’t tense up as much and feel more relaxed. Then you could try using only one pole and repeat until you feel stable. You could then try using no poles and see how you are.
Motion Sensitivity
If your problem is “central positional nystagmus,” the treatment approach is through habituation. Instead of having Epley or other manoeuvres performed, you can try Brandt-Daroff or other vestibular rehabilitation exercises. These habituation exercises retrain the brain and are beneficial for most patients. They are helpful for both peripheral and central types of dizziness.
If you are motion sensitive, you can start by doing tiny doses of movements that make you feel nauseated. For example, move your head back and forth for just 30 seconds. Then push yourself for one or two seconds longer and give your brain a chance to overcome the feeling of nausea. Gradually, your brain will get habituated to more motion.
If done properly and routinely, those with motion sensitivity, BPPV or central positional nystagmus should start to feel some benefit from habituation exercises in three to four weeks and feel a lot better in about five to six weeks. If you are unsure how to do these exercises, have back or neck problems, or can’t do them quickly enough on your own, have a physiotherapist, audiologist or ENT (otolaryngologist) do them.
If you feel more anxious when on these surfaces, here are some suggestions you could explore.
You may try to first just stand on the edge of that surface. While standing there, just notice your body. “Scan” it with your attention, all the way from the soles of your feet to your head. Notice any areas of tension and soften them if you can. Notice whether your heart is beating fast, your breathing is shallow or you are sweating. If that is happening, take some deep breaths, with a longer out-breath, like a sigh of relief. Intentionally relax and slow down. Take as much time as you need to feel calm, relaxed and safe just standing there.
Then you may also want to work on some sort of habituation to these surfaces. I’d try starting with some walking poles and see if you feel more stable and less like falling when on these types of surfaces. You’d want to try perhaps just a few steps at a time, for just as long as you feel safe. You would want to repeat this several times a week for some practice and exposure. If the process works, you should start to feel that you don’t tense up as much and feel more relaxed. Then you could try using only one pole and repeat until you feel stable. You could then try using no poles and see how you are.
The balance system is complex and in fact involves 3 major sensory input systems, all controlled by the brain. The inner ear sensors for balance, eyes and the proprioceptors on the body all send information to the brain. Balance centres receive, analyze and integrate these bits of information and then send orders to the body to readjust according to the movement done in the first place.
When you are dizzy with computer use, it usually means that the balance system is relying more heavily on the visual input. It is not fully reassured by the inner ear sensors telling them you are not moving. For more information, read our Motion and Cyber Sickness article.
Having the weights on you or changing your posture as you walk is increasing the cues coming from the proprioceptive system to the brain. This additional input seems to help you balance.
I would recommend you to have your inner ear sensors tested. It might be that they are working just fine but your centres in the brain are not using their information properly or it might be that your brain is in need of all this additional information (visual and proprioception) because your inner ear sensors are dysfunctional.
It is very common to have dizziness triggered by watching things move, as opposed to moving oneself. Many people feel dizzy in busy visual environments, such as browsing in a crowded grocery store, at busy intersections, or even seeing someone carrying a boldly striped bag. This problem is caused by your brain not being able to match up the information coming from your eyes, your inner ear and the proprioception sensors on your joints. When you watch a 3-D movie, your eyes follow things around as if you were actually moving. If your brain is hard-wired to believe your eyes more than your inner ear or body, the message from your eyes will dominate and you’ll feel dizzy.
A treatment for visually-stimulated vertigo consists of watching things in motion. Repeatedly watching full-screen versions of the NED Leader (right and left) video clips on YouTube is recommended. When you get the feeling that you want to look away, watch for three to five seconds longer. Becoming accustomed to doing the tai chi “cloud hands” movement follows the same principle; it habituates your brain to the movement of your hands. Read more about motion and cyber sickness.
Below are some optokinetic videos.
Once you are used to these, try this one:
The following playlists compile complex exercises:
Self Help
The balance system is complex and in fact involves 3 major sensory input systems, all controlled by the brain. The inner ear sensors for balance, eyes and the proprioceptors on the body all send information to the brain. Balance centres receive, analyze and integrate these bits of information and then send orders to the body to readjust according to the movement done in the first place.
When you are dizzy with computer use, it usually means that the balance system is relying more heavily on the visual input. It is not fully reassured by the inner ear sensors telling them you are not moving. For more information, read our Motion and Cyber Sickness article.
Having the weights on you or changing your posture as you walk is increasing the cues coming from the proprioceptive system to the brain. This additional input seems to help you balance.
I would recommend you to have your inner ear sensors tested. It might be that they are working just fine but your centres in the brain are not using their information properly or it might be that your brain is in need of all this additional information (visual and proprioception) because your inner ear sensors are dysfunctional.
Vestibular Rehabilitation
If your problem is “central positional nystagmus,” the treatment approach is through habituation. Instead of having Epley or other manoeuvres performed, you can try Brandt-Daroff or other vestibular rehabilitation exercises. These habituation exercises retrain the brain and are beneficial for most patients. They are helpful for both peripheral and central types of dizziness.
If you are motion sensitive, you can start by doing tiny doses of movements that make you feel nauseated. For example, move your head back and forth for just 30 seconds. Then push yourself for one or two seconds longer and give your brain a chance to overcome the feeling of nausea. Gradually, your brain will get habituated to more motion.
If done properly and routinely, those with motion sensitivity, BPPV or central positional nystagmus should start to feel some benefit from habituation exercises in three to four weeks and feel a lot better in about five to six weeks. If you are unsure how to do these exercises, have back or neck problems, or can’t do them quickly enough on your own, have a physiotherapist, audiologist or ENT (otolaryngologist) do them.
If you feel more anxious when on these surfaces, here are some suggestions you could explore.
You may try to first just stand on the edge of that surface. While standing there, just notice your body. “Scan” it with your attention, all the way from the soles of your feet to your head. Notice any areas of tension and soften them if you can. Notice whether your heart is beating fast, your breathing is shallow or you are sweating. If that is happening, take some deep breaths, with a longer out-breath, like a sigh of relief. Intentionally relax and slow down. Take as much time as you need to feel calm, relaxed and safe just standing there.
Then you may also want to work on some sort of habituation to these surfaces. I’d try starting with some walking poles and see if you feel more stable and less like falling when on these types of surfaces. You’d want to try perhaps just a few steps at a time, for just as long as you feel safe. You would want to repeat this several times a week for some practice and exposure. If the process works, you should start to feel that you don’t tense up as much and feel more relaxed. Then you could try using only one pole and repeat until you feel stable. You could then try using no poles and see how you are.
It is very common to have dizziness triggered by watching things move, as opposed to moving oneself. Many people feel dizzy in busy visual environments, such as browsing in a crowded grocery store, at busy intersections, or even seeing someone carrying a boldly striped bag. This problem is caused by your brain not being able to match up the information coming from your eyes, your inner ear and the proprioception sensors on your joints. When you watch a 3-D movie, your eyes follow things around as if you were actually moving. If your brain is hard-wired to believe your eyes more than your inner ear or body, the message from your eyes will dominate and you’ll feel dizzy.
A treatment for visually-stimulated vertigo consists of watching things in motion. Repeatedly watching full-screen versions of the NED Leader (right and left) video clips on YouTube is recommended. When you get the feeling that you want to look away, watch for three to five seconds longer. Becoming accustomed to doing the tai chi “cloud hands” movement follows the same principle; it habituates your brain to the movement of your hands. Read more about motion and cyber sickness.
Below are some optokinetic videos.
Once you are used to these, try this one:
The following playlists compile complex exercises:
Vestibular Testing
The balance system is complex and in fact involves 3 major sensory input systems, all controlled by the brain. The inner ear sensors for balance, eyes and the proprioceptors on the body all send information to the brain. Balance centres receive, analyze and integrate these bits of information and then send orders to the body to readjust according to the movement done in the first place.
When you are dizzy with computer use, it usually means that the balance system is relying more heavily on the visual input. It is not fully reassured by the inner ear sensors telling them you are not moving. For more information, read our Motion and Cyber Sickness article.
Having the weights on you or changing your posture as you walk is increasing the cues coming from the proprioceptive system to the brain. This additional input seems to help you balance.
I would recommend you to have your inner ear sensors tested. It might be that they are working just fine but your centres in the brain are not using their information properly or it might be that your brain is in need of all this additional information (visual and proprioception) because your inner ear sensors are dysfunctional.
Vision
The balance system is complex and in fact involves 3 major sensory input systems, all controlled by the brain. The inner ear sensors for balance, eyes and the proprioceptors on the body all send information to the brain. Balance centres receive, analyze and integrate these bits of information and then send orders to the body to readjust according to the movement done in the first place.
When you are dizzy with computer use, it usually means that the balance system is relying more heavily on the visual input. It is not fully reassured by the inner ear sensors telling them you are not moving. For more information, read our Motion and Cyber Sickness article.
Having the weights on you or changing your posture as you walk is increasing the cues coming from the proprioceptive system to the brain. This additional input seems to help you balance.
I would recommend you to have your inner ear sensors tested. It might be that they are working just fine but your centres in the brain are not using their information properly or it might be that your brain is in need of all this additional information (visual and proprioception) because your inner ear sensors are dysfunctional.
Visual Vertigo
The balance system is complex and in fact involves 3 major sensory input systems, all controlled by the brain. The inner ear sensors for balance, eyes and the proprioceptors on the body all send information to the brain. Balance centres receive, analyze and integrate these bits of information and then send orders to the body to readjust according to the movement done in the first place.
When you are dizzy with computer use, it usually means that the balance system is relying more heavily on the visual input. It is not fully reassured by the inner ear sensors telling them you are not moving. For more information, read our Motion and Cyber Sickness article.
Having the weights on you or changing your posture as you walk is increasing the cues coming from the proprioceptive system to the brain. This additional input seems to help you balance.
I would recommend you to have your inner ear sensors tested. It might be that they are working just fine but your centres in the brain are not using their information properly or it might be that your brain is in need of all this additional information (visual and proprioception) because your inner ear sensors are dysfunctional.
It is very common to have dizziness triggered by watching things move, as opposed to moving oneself. Many people feel dizzy in busy visual environments, such as browsing in a crowded grocery store, at busy intersections, or even seeing someone carrying a boldly striped bag. This problem is caused by your brain not being able to match up the information coming from your eyes, your inner ear and the proprioception sensors on your joints. When you watch a 3-D movie, your eyes follow things around as if you were actually moving. If your brain is hard-wired to believe your eyes more than your inner ear or body, the message from your eyes will dominate and you’ll feel dizzy.
A treatment for visually-stimulated vertigo consists of watching things in motion. Repeatedly watching full-screen versions of the NED Leader (right and left) video clips on YouTube is recommended. When you get the feeling that you want to look away, watch for three to five seconds longer. Becoming accustomed to doing the tai chi “cloud hands” movement follows the same principle; it habituates your brain to the movement of your hands. Read more about motion and cyber sickness.
Below are some optokinetic videos.
Once you are used to these, try this one:
The following playlists compile complex exercises:
