What Labyrinthitis Exercises Can I Do at Home?
Labyrinthitis, an inner ear disorder causing dizziness and balance issues, can be managed with at-home exercises tailored to enhance vestibular rehabilitation. Importantly, Cawthorne-Cooksey and Brandt-Daroff exercises are essential components, focusing on head and eye movements to stabilize gaze and reposition displaced otoliths.
Additionally, incorporating physical activities such as walking, yoga, or Tai Chi can further challenge the balance system, promoting a faster recovery.
As we explore these exercises, it’s vital to understand how each can be seamlessly integrated into daily routines for best results and improved quality of life.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy
Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) entails a series of evidence-based exercises designed to enhance balance and mitigate dizziness by retraining the brain to compensate for the vestibular deficits caused by labyrinthitis.

VRT is a cornerstone in the management of labyrinthitis, focusing on labyrinthitis exercises that include gaze stabilisation, balance training, and head movement exercises. These exercises aim to address the inner ear deficits by promoting neuroplasticity, thereby aiding the brain to adapt to the impaired signals from the affected vestibular system.
Gaze stabilisation exercises are designed to improve the control of eye movements so that vision remains clear during head motion. This form of VRT exercise is crucial for patients who experience dizziness when moving their heads.
Balance training, another essential component, involves tasks ranging from simple static postures to dynamic movements, progressively challenging the patient’s balance system to enhance stability and coordination.
The effectiveness of VRT exercises relies heavily on consistent and regular practice. Patients are encouraged to perform these exercises at home under the guidance of a healthcare provider or vestibular physiotherapist. This structured approach guarantees that the therapy is tailored to the individual’s specific deficits, thereby optimising recovery outcomes.
Cawthorne-Cooksey Exercises
Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises, a pivotal component of vestibular rehabilitation, involve systematic head and eye movements designed to alleviate vertigo and enhance balance function. These exercises are particularly beneficial for individuals suffering from labyrinthitis, as they facilitate vestibular compensation and reduce dizziness over time.
The primary objective of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises is to train the eyes to move independently of the head, thereby improving gaze stabilization and overall balance.
Regular practice can lead to significant improvements in daily functional activities and a reduction in vertigo symptoms. For patients seeking natural remedies for vertigo, incorporating these exercises into their routine can be highly effective.
Key components of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises include:
- Head movements: Gentle, controlled movements in different directions to stimulate the vestibular system.
- Eye movements: Targeting various focal points while keeping the head still to improve visual tracking.
- Gaze stabilisation: Focusing on an object while moving the head to enhance visual acuity during motion.
- Shoulder and neck relaxation: Techniques to ease muscle tension, which can contribute to dizziness.
- Balance training: Progressive standing and walking exercises to improve postural stability.
We always recommend you are first taught how to perform any of the exercises here by a trained vestibular physiotherapist as there are importance nuances that need to be understood for them to be effective. To help you get a better understand of the Cawthorne-Cooksey Exercise, here is a useful video tutorial from the Jackson Ear Clinic:
Canalith Repositioning Procedures
Building on the foundational benefits of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises, Canalith Repositioning Procedures (CRPs) offer targeted interventions for addressing benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) by maneuvering displaced otoliths back to their proper location in the inner ear.
CRPs, including the Epley and Semont maneuvers, involve precise head and upper body movements designed to relocate the otoliths, or crystals, in the vestibular system, thereby alleviating vertigo symptoms.
The Epley maneuver, a widely recognized CRP, involves sequential head movements to guide the crystals through the semicircular canals and back into the utricle. This technique has shown high efficacy in symptom resolution, with numerous studies supporting its effectiveness.
Please watch the below video tutorial from Fauquier ENT on performing the Epley Maneuver:
Similarly, the Semont maneuver employs a rapid shift in body position to achieve similar results, often used as an alternative when the Epley maneuver is ineffective.
Here’s a useful video tutorial on the Semont Maneuver from the University of Michigan:
It is important for these maneuvers to be performed under the supervision of a healthcare provider or vestibular physiotherapist to guarantee accuracy and safety. Misapplication of these techniques can exacerbate symptoms or cause additional discomfort.
Hence, patient education and professional guidance are indispensable in the successful implementation of CRPs for managing BPPV at home.
Brandt-Daroff Exercises
Brandt-Daroff exercises are a patient-focused intervention designed to utilize gravity for repositioning displaced otoliths within the semicircular canals, thereby mitigating vertigo symptoms.
These exercises are systematically choreographed movements that aim to alleviate the disorienting effects of labyrinthitis by encouraging the natural relocation of otoliths, which can disrupt normal vestibular function.
To perform the Brandt-Daroff exercises:
- Starting Position: Sit on the edge of a bed with your feet flat on the floor.
- Head Turn and Lie Down: Turn your head 45 degrees to one side, then quickly lie down on the opposite side (e.g., turn left, lie on right side).
- Wait: Remain in this position for 30 seconds or until dizziness subsides.
- Return to Starting Position: Sit up slowly and wait for another 30 seconds.
- Repeat on Opposite Side: Perform the same sequence on the other side.
These exercises should be repeated five times on each side, ideally under the initial guidance of a healthcare provider.
Evidence suggests that consistent practice can contribute to symptomatic relief by facilitating the proper relocation of otoliths, thereby reducing the frequency and intensity of vertigo episodes associated with labyrinthitis.
Below is also a great video tutorial from Fauquier ENT on performing the Brandt-Daroff Exercises:
Incorporating Physical Activities
Incorporating physical activities such as dancing and yoga into your routine can greatly enhance the vestibular rehabilitation process by challenging and retraining your balance system.
Engaging in these activities not only promotes overall physical well-being but specifically targets the vestibular system, helping it adapt to changes and improve its function. Dancing, for instance, requires complex movements and coordination, thereby stimulating the brain to recalibrate balance and spatial orientation.
Yoga, with its focus on controlled movements and poses, can significantly aid in improving proprioception and stability. It emphasizes gradual progression, allowing individuals to safely increase the complexity of movements as their symptoms lessen.

Additionally, activities like walking, ball games, and various sports can further promote balance and coordination. These exercises expose the vestibular system to controlled, repetitive challenges, which is essential for desensitisation and symptom improvement.
Gradually reintroducing activities previously avoided due to dizziness can also be beneficial. It is important to personalise these activities to align with your interests and capabilities, ensuring consistent and enjoyable participation.
Evidence suggests that such tailored physical activities can accelerate recovery by fostering a resilient and adaptive vestibular system, ultimately enhancing quality of life.
In Conclusion...
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy, including Cawthorne-Cooksey and Brandt-Daroff exercises, along with canalith repositioning procedures, proves effective in managing labyrinthitis symptoms.
Incorporating activities such as walking, yoga, and Tai Chi can further enhance balance and overall well-being.
Reach Out For An Assessment If Vestibular Rehabilitation Sounds Right For You
You don’t have to put up with dizziness disorders any longer – the issue is more common than you think and very treatable. Our trained & experienced vestibular rehabilitation physio can help you regain your sense of balance & get back to doing the things you enjoy in life.
Please schedule an appointment with Jack here or call us on (03) 4514 0975 to learn more information about the root cause of your dizziness & loss of balance and start taking the first steps to a more confident and balanced lifestyle.

Rosanna Physio
Rosanna Physio has been serving the people of Rosanna and its surrounding suburbs since 1989. We have the education, qualifications and experience to effectively treat any muscle or joint injury that requires expert physical therapy care.