Blog Category – Balance Vertigo

Are you looking for a simple way to test your balance at home? 

The Romberg Test, which features four different balance positions, is a very useful tool!

Testing your 3 balance systems is a bit tricky to do on your own, but it can be done.

Remember that the 3 systems include your vision, your sensation/proprioception and your inner ear.

I’ll explain how to test each of the 3 below, but let me give you a word of caution first: when you test your balance on your own, you run the risk of falling.

So if you’re interested in performing these tests, make sure you’re in a safe environment and that someone is nearby to help you correct your balance if needed.

Horizontal canal BPPV can be much more difficult to diagnose and treat than posterior canal BPPV, and it’s also much less common (which is great!).

If you think you have horizontal canal BPPV, which is characterized by horizontal “nystagmus”, your first step in getting rid of the vertigo is to figure out 2 things: what side is affected (left or right) and if you’re dealing with particles floating in the canal (canalithiasis) or particles stuck to the cupula (cupulolithiasis).

This sounds confusing, I know, but I’ll explain everything in the first video below!

In the second video, I’ll then explain how to treat horizontal canal BPPV using the Gufoni Maneuver. 

If you’re looking for simple exercises to help you improve your balance at home, this post is just for you!

I just created 3 new videos where I demonstrate simple and effective balance exercises.

All you need is a foam pad or couch cushion for some of them (or an old pillow you don’t mind stepping on!).

Just one word of caution before you checking out these videos: please make sure you prioritize your safety!

In a previous blog, I explained how you can test your “3 Balance Systems” to determine your body’s ability to give your brain accurate sensory input. Recall that giving your brain accurate input regarding your balance is the first key step in maintaining your balance and avoiding a fall.

And the next 2 steps involve your ability to process this sensory input and make any necessary corrections.

So far, I’ve tried to keep my explanations of your balance pretty simple… and I’m hoping that today won’t be too confusing.
However, keep this in mind as we discuss the 8 factors that can influence your balance: there are a lot of different factors involved when it comes to maintaining your balance. Often times, people who struggle with poor balance will have 2-3 factors that specifically affect them. Your ability to improve your balance will depend on figuring out which 2-3 factors are affecting you and improving them if you can (not all of them can be improved, but I’ll discuss that as we go along).