Intermediate Vestibular Hypofunction Routine

A ~25-minute vestibular rehab session focused on gaze stabilization, balance, and habituation.

Intermediate Vestibular Hypofunction Routine

A ~25-minute vestibular rehab session focused on gaze stabilization, balance, and habituation.

Warm-Up

Settle your breathing and gently increase circulation before vestibular drills. 3 minutes.

Diaphragmatic Breathing1 min

March in Place2 min

VOR x1 and VOR x2

Horizontal and vertical drills. Do each drill at a brisk but controlled speed. If symptoms spike, slow down or shorten the interval.

Gaze Stabilization (VOR x1)1 min

Gaze Stabilization (VOR x2)45 sec

Eye Movement Control

Keep head still for these unless noted. Use two targets (e.g., two sticky notes) for saccades.

Saccades (Quick Eye Jumps)1 min

Smooth Pursuit (Tracking)1m 30s

Strength and Static Balance

Move steadily; prioritize control over speed.

Sit to Stand10x

Tandem Stance (Heel-to-Toe)1 min

Single-Leg Stance30 sec each side

Dynamic Balance and Turns

Walk along a hallway or near a wall. Keep steps small and controlled if dizzy.

Walk With Head Turns2 min

Turn in Place10x

VOR Gain & Retinal Slip Reduction

VOR x1 and x2 drills directly train the vestibulo-ocular reflex to match eye velocity with head velocity, reducing the retinal slip that causes oscillopsia and dizziness. Saccades and smooth pursuit layer in cerebellar oculomotor adaptation, targeting the specific gaze instability that makes reading, driving, and crowded spaces feel overwhelming.

What Unilateral Hypofunction Demands

A damaged vestibular nerve forces your brain to reweight proprioceptive and visual inputs—which is why tandem stance and single-leg stance feel disproportionately hard when you close your eyes or look away. Head turns during walking are the functional stress test your vestibular system faces every single day, making Walk With Head Turns the most ecologically valid exercise in this session.

Habituation Dosing & Symptom Threshold

This routine is structured around repeated, controlled provocation—each head movement and balance challenge is a calibrated stimulus that drives central compensation through neuroplasticity, not avoidance. Sit to stand is placed in the balance block intentionally, as orthostatic vestibular stress compounds gaze and postural demands simultaneously. Personalize intensity by tracking your symptom sco

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