Symptoms of Vestibular Migraine
Vestibular migraine can look different from person to person. Symptoms may include:
- Episodes of dizziness or vertigo
- Rocking, swaying or floating sensations
- Motion sensitivity
- Difficulty riding in a car
- Dizziness with rapid head movements
- Sensitivity to busy stores or crowds
- Difficulty with scrolling or screens
- Sensitivity to lights, patterns or visual movement
- Imbalance
- Nausea
- Head pressure
- Headache or migraine
- Sensitivity to light or sound
For some people, dizziness is the dominant symptom.
Why Does Migraine Cause Dizziness?
Migraine can influence the way the brain processes information from the vestibular, visual and sensory systems that help you understand where you are in space.
This can lead to increased sensitivity to movement, visual stimulation and changes in head position.
Over time, people may begin avoiding the movements and environments that make them dizzy. Unfortunately, excessive avoidance can sometimes make the nervous system even more sensitive.
How Vestibular Rehabilitation Can Help
Vestibular rehabilitation for migraine is not a one-size-fits-all exercise program.
Treatment may include carefully progressed:
- Gaze-stabilization exercises
- Head-movement training
- Balance exercises
- Visual-motion exposure
- Habituation exercises
- Walking and dynamic movement
- Aerobic exercise
- Strength and conditioning
- Strategies for gradually returning to activities that provoke symptoms
The goal is to challenge the nervous system enough to promote adaptation without repeatedly overwhelming it.
Migraine Treatment Often Requires a Team
Vestibular rehabilitation can be an important part of treatment, but migraine management may also involve a physician or other healthcare provider to address medication, sleep, nutrition, hormones and other migraine contributors when appropriate.
Our role is to determine how your dizziness and movement intolerance are affecting function and help your nervous system become more comfortable with movement again.
Move With More Confidence
If dizziness, motion or visually busy environments have started controlling what you can do, specialized vestibular rehabilitation may help.
