Vestibular Rehabilitation: Advancing VOR Exercises

[@life-mm5do]

Any advice for bilateral vestibular hypofunction? I keep decompensating with my VOR. I've had this for 4 years. I do my VOR exercises daily, but I'm still dizzy and have ocilopsia. So I also using a target several feet away for the vor exercises, or always arms length or a little farther.

[@mahatayseer]

The general suggestion for bilateral vestibular hypofunction is sensory substitution, which is to enhance reliance on vision and proprioception (i.e. deep sensation from feet). So, try exercises were you focus on a fixed target while performing progressively challenging conditions (standing with feet together, then semi-tandem, then tandem...). Another exercise is to look at a target, close the eyes, move the head to right while keeping the closed eyes on the target, open the eyes and see if you were able to keep them on the target. You can repeat this with movement to the left, up, or down. And do it while sitting, standing with feet apart, with feet closed, etc

[@life-mm5do]

Does walking also improve the vor? Or does walking while doing the VOR exercises just also improve the balance system

[@mahatayseer]

It works both ways... walking in itself requires VOR to maintain clear vision. Adding the VOR exercise helps by setting a specific target to look at