Vertigo (cont.)
How are balance disorders treated?
The treatment of a balance or vestibular disorder will depend on its cause.
Accordingly, specific medicinal (pharmacological) and surgical treatments are
discussed below with each specific disease process. In general, however,
symptomatic control of vertigo, regardless of the cause, can often be
accomplished with diazepam (Valium) given intravenously or orally. The
accompanying nausea and vomiting can be treated with droperidol (Inapsine),
promethazine (Compazine), prochlorperazine (Phenergan), or ondansetron (Zophren).
Fluid and electrolyte replenishment is often very helpful, and can be provided
orally or if necessary, intravenously.
What are vestibular rehabilitation exercises?
Once the short-term (acute) symptoms of a balance disorder have subsided,
physical therapy (that is, vestibular rehabilitation exercises) can be
particularly helpful. The goal of this rehabilitation is to help the patient
adjust (accommodate) to the balance problem so as to diminish recurrent
symptoms. The following is a list of vestibular exercises that may be helpful.
1. Seated or in bed.
- Eye movements: move the eyes slowly at first, then quickly up and down,
side to side, and diagonally. Focus on your finger as you move it from 1 foot to
3 feet away from the face.
- Head movements: move the head slowly at first, then quickly, with eyes
open, bending forward and backward, turning from side to side, tilting from side
to side, and moving diagonally. Repeat with the eyes closed.
2. Standing
- Repeat section 1 exercise while standing.
- Change from a sitting to a standing position, first with eyes open, and
then with the eyes closed.
- Throw a ball from hand to hand above eye level.
- Throw a ball from hand to hand under the knees.
- Change from sitting to standing, turning first to one side and then to the
other.
3. Moving about
- Walk across the room with eyes open, and then with eyes closed.
- Walk up and down a slope with eyes open, and then with eyes closed.
- Walk up and down steps with eyes open, and then with eyes closed.
- Sit up and lie down in bed
- Sit down in a chair, then stand up
- Recover balance when pushed in a specific direction.
- Throw and catch a ball
- Engage in any game involving stooping or stretching and aiming, such as
bowling, volleyball, or shuffleboard.
Next: What are the specific balance disorders and their treatments? »
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