Dizziness (vertigo)/disturbance of equilibrium

Those who suffer from dizziness are not alone. More than one out of ten patients complain about dizziness to their family doctor. Dizziness also occurs frequently in young people. Equilibrium disturbances increase significantly with age.

Dizziness is highly varied and there are different forms (e.g. rotary vertigo). Finding the cause is usually difficult, which is why treatment is often non-specific and protracted.

In the kybun shoe/on the kybun mat, you stand on a soft material which allows you to gently train your equilibrium to actively counteract dizziness. It has been proven that exposing yourself to dizziness is the most effective therapy against it.

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Definition

Affected individuals describe their complaints in very different ways. They perceive illusory movements or feel generally unsettled or dizzy. Many have the feeling that something in them is rotating or that their surroundings are rotating around them (rotary vertigo). Others believe they are swaying, especially when they are standing, or that their surroundings appear to be moving back and forth (postural vertigo). Another version is the sensation of being pulled downward or upward, as in an elevator (lift vertigo), or of tipping over forward or sideways (tendency to fall). The feelings of dizziness can come on as sudden attacks in certain situations, for example acute rotary vertigo, or they may be permanent, for example in the form of numbness and grogginess (numbness vertigo).

Causes

Dizziness may have many causes. Some of them are:

  • Disturbances of the inner ear (vestibular system)
  • Disturbances in the brain (centre of equilibrium)
  • Age (vestibular system in the inner ear becomes immobile)
  • Underlying neurological disorder
  • Nerve inflammation
  • Vascular problems
  • Cardiovascular disturbances
  • Metabolic disturbances
  • Psychological conditions

The wide range of possible causes for dizziness shows just how much the functioning of our equilibrium depends on the health of other body systems.

Long-term consequences

Dizziness severely limits quality of life. Affected individuals hardly dare to go outside alone, since dizziness can worsen from one second to the next and they may fall down. Keeping a job and enjoying recreational activities is difficult.

Conventional therapy

The treatment depends on the clinical symptoms.

  • As a rule, accompanying balance training is essential, since it strengthens the equilibrium system in general, supports the necessary healing processes and promotes any compensation that may be needed.
  • Antibiotics may be used in case of inflammation. Medications to promote circulation or cortisone may be indicated as well. Medications against dizziness known as antivertiginous drugs can help in case of severe vertigo.
  • Doctors usually treat benign positional vertigo successfully with targeted exercises or select positioning manoeuvres.
  • Tumours or vascular problems may require an operation.

The kybun principle of operation – being proactive

Older people with balance problems often walk much more confidently in the kybun shoe than in normal shoes that support the foot. This seems surprising at first, since orthopaedists or shoe specialists usually recommend sturdy shoes for people with equilibrium disturbances.

http://www.kybun.ch/videos/seniorentraining.html

In the kybun shoe/on the kybun mat, you can move your feet freely. This means all the joints in the foot are used, the foot can adapt to the ground and react to unevenness with compensating movements.

Through the soft kybun shoe sole/kybun mat, you can also feel the ground (e.g. individual cobblestones). This stimulates foot sensitivity, the wearer becomes more confident while walking and the risk of falling is reduced.

Muscle training in the kybun shoe (deep sensorimotor musculature) strengthens and straightens the entire body. Dizziness is reduced and you feel more confident while walking again.

Initial reactions

Specific initial reactions with existing dizziness:

Dizziness may increase somewhat at first since the body is not yet accustomed to the soft, elastic kybun shoe sole. Try to keep your gaze forward and keep walking short distances in the kybun shoe. The body will get used to the increased movement in the kybun shoe after just a few hours and dizziness will be alleviated.

 

Click here for the general initial reactions experienced by kybun mat and kybun shoe beginners: Initial reactions

kybun exercises

For information about the special kybun shoe exercises or the basic kybun mat exercises, please click here: kybun exercises

Application tips

  • Be sure to maintain an upright body posture.
  • Keep your gaze forward and do not look at the floor.
  • Do not make your steps too long.
  • Make sure your shoulders are relaxed (do not draw them up) and avoid tensing up your feet (do not clench your toes).
  • Breathe evenly (many people automatically hold their breath while walking in the kybun shoe because they feel uncertain).
  • Take a short kybun break if dizziness gets worse or you no longer feel well.
  • The kybun exercises help you to avoid cramping up and assist you with variable balance training.
  • Individually adapt the intensity of the kybun training. Try to train in the kybun shoe/on the kybun mat as long and as often as possible. You should, however, always feel well while doing so.
  • Try various kybun shoe models. Some models with a higher cut provide more stability. In case of dizziness, we also recommend a kybun shoe model with a lower rebound effect. It is a bit wider in the midfoot area, therefore making you feel more stable while walking (ask for advice in a specialised kybun shop).
  • If you still feel too unsafe walking in the kybun shoe, we advise using the kybun mat. The kybun mat is available in three different thicknesses. This allows you to choose the thickness that is most comfortable for you (the thicker, the less stable, and the more intensive the training).
    You can also hold on to a fixed object if you need additional support when using the kybun mat.

Opinions/customer testimonials

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