Activities for stimulating the Vestibular system

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In January, 2021, my family got COVID.

When my husband tested positive on New Year’s Day, I knew I needed to be tested as well, even though I didn’t have a single symptom I associated with COVID such as fever, cough, or trouble breathing.

I had had a fairly serious GI bleed 6 weeks prior and was still recovering from the affects of anemia. If the fatigue, nausea and other G.I. upsets were COVID related, it was so much my norm at that moment, I didn’t link the two.

During the days I isolated and recovered, I experienced regular headaches (unusual for me), as well as loss of taste and smell. My most prominent symptom however was DIZZINESS.

Early in the COVID game, we were told the virus mainly affected the respiratory, and circulatory systems. But more recent accumulating evidence has shown that for some patients (me and my family members included) it can affect the nervous system as well thus adding DIZZINESS to the list of symptoms.

Symptoms of dizziness can include the following:

  • Vertigo (or the feeling that the room is spinning)

  • Light headed or feeling faint

  • Loss of balance or unsteadiness

  • A feeling of floating or wooziness

I lost track of the amount of times I said, “I just feel a little woozy.”

This got me thinking about my vestibular system.

As a long time music teacher, holding a specialty license in early childhood music, I was very familiar with what is referred to as our “sixth sense” or vestibular system, and ways it could be stimulated in children. But I wondered if there were ways I could stimulate this system in my own body that would indeed help me overcome frequent, all be it momentary, bouts of dizziness.

It’s important before discussing ways we can bring health of our vestibular system that we discuss what exactly it is. Like I said, the vestibular system is often referred to as our sixth sense, along with sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. In Kindermusik, I use to describe it as the sense of movement.

When thinking about the vestibular sense, most people think of balance. However, it is also essential in posture, muscle tone, spatial orientation, alertness and eye movement.

The organs that control the vestibular system are found in the inner ear and include the vestibular nerve and the semicircular canals.

  • Vestibular Nerve -

    Nerve that transmits all kinds of sensory information to the brain based on the position of the head in relation to the body.

  • Semicircular Canals -

    Three tiny tubes in the inner ear filled with fluid. Their job is the help you maintain balance. When your head moves, the fluid passes over tiny hairs in the canal and creates a message sent to your brain telling you just what you need to do to balance.

The vestibular system is quite complicated (so the above is just a portion of the basics), and works closely with the proprioceptive system to keep us balanced, coordinated and aware of body movement.

When it’s out of whack, we can feel, well, dizzy.

So, what are some effective, yet easy ways to stimulate this sense and help it to do its job effectively?

Here are just a few ideas I used:

  • Rocking: I sat in either our hammock or porch swing and used my foot to gently rock myself back and forth. The extra plus was being outside and getting vitamin D.

  • Balance Board: You can find an affordable option by clicking here, that also comes with resistance bands. Pinterest has many plans for making one yourself.

  • Games: Any game that involves stooping, stretching, and aiming help stimulate the vestibular system. Try simply playing catch, jumping rope, bowling or Twister.

  • Bike Riding

  • Have a Dance Party!

  • Walking

  • Yoga: balance poses, stretching, posture training and strengthening are all apart of this practice

And, get this. General fitness IS VERY EFFECTIVE for stimulating the vestibular system in both adults and children. So when in doubt, simply move your body. Here’s to being healthy and staying healthy!

Blessings,

Shanna

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