Do gaze stabilisation exercises work?

Hi William,

Thank you for posting your question onto EnableMe. I am sorry to hear about your stroke and the dizziness you are experiencing from it. Having dizziness 24/7 can be really debilitating, and it is great that you have input from a physio and neurologist.

It sounds like you are receiving appropriate treatment. Gaze stabilisation exercises help to improve the control of eye movements so vision remains clear during head movement. These exercises are used in vestibular rehabilitation (i.e. Rehabilitation that helps decrease dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, gaze instability) They have been shown to help with symptoms from cerebellar conditions.   

The physio may have prescribed gaze stabilization exercises to do each day as homework. When doing the exercises, you should feel some dizziness but not to the point that you are sick. With these exercises, they may feel very unsettling to start with and finding the right amount is important. An important part of the process is understanding that the brain will need to experience feelings of dizziness or imbalance, to encourage it to learn and adapt. (As hard as this may feel!) The physio may also incorporate the exercises into daily activities that are meaningful to you. Just like movement rehabilitation, recovery will depend on frequency and intensity of exercises as prescribed by your physiotherapist. Usually with adherence to a program you will experience less dizziness within weeks.

Goals and reassessments can be really helpful in measuring your progress. If you don’t feel like much has changed, keep discussing with your physio. Find out reasons why, try not to let it get you down, and take it as an opportunity to reevaluate... And don't forget to celebrate your wins!

Here is a great blog that may be helpful.

Australian Physio Association: Dizziness after Stroke blog

If you need further information, please don’t hesitate to call us on StrokeLine 1800 787 653

Warm regards,

Kath (StrokeLine)

Hi William,

Here are some other community answers:

Alison Hurding Hi William....maybe a unorthodox but(!!) ...as someone 6 months down and a dizziness sufferer ( severe brain stem - pons- stroke ) 2 things that seem to help me.
1 is caffeine tablets ( 2 in morning 1at lunch ...nothing later so it goes our of the system for sleeping) as I dont like strong coffee🤣...seems to sharpen up the coping system really well.
2 I make myself rest after lunch regardless of whether I'm tired or not! This also helps with coping.
Still aware of dizziness holding things up after @ 6pm ...but generally less of an obstacle as I chill in the evening.
Wishing you well.

Steve Walsh Central vertigo may respond to staged gaze stabilisation. It’s about adapting and managing dizziness with exercises. Everyone reacts differently and it doesn’t hurt to try them. Good luck!

Stagd Wright Gday Wlliam i had a stroke back in September 9th lost 40 percent of my cerrabellum and yes dizzy. balance .headache .mouth full of saliva 24/7 and always exercising as much as i can .

Kim Hadley: The most effective treatment I had for vertigo was Neuro feedback therapy with Dr Tim Hill. It helped so many things for me from sleep, vertigo and walking and talking. www.braintherapycentre.com.au

Brain Therapy Centre
BRAINTHERAPYCENTRE.COM.AU
Brain Therapy Centre

Colleen Gear: Hi William I suffered severe vertigo and dizziness after my stroke and the stroke specialist diagnosed me with vestibular migraines with vertigo for months was on medications just to function. The things that helped me the most was celery juice first t…See More