Oculomotor exercises refer to exercises of the eye. Our eyes use many muscles to let us look around and experience the world. Although most people rarely think about it, exercising eye muscles can have many of the same benefits as other types of exercise.
Oculomotor exercises rehabilitation therapy in Bonita Springs can improve the strength, control, and coordination of eye muscles. At Specific Care Chiropractic, we use many different types of rehabilitation therapy to help patients reduce pain and improve functioning. Call us today at (239) 369-9109 to learn more.
Understanding Oculomotor Exercises Rehabilitation Therapy
Just as arm exercises can help somebody improve arm strength and movement, eye exercises enhance visual tracking, focus, and eye movement. Oculomotor exercises are often used in conjunction with other types of rehabilitation therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Oculomotor exercises have been shown to improve medical conditions such as:
Amblyopia
The Mayo Clinic explains that amblyopia or “lazy eye” is often caused by abnormal development early in a person’s life. Symptoms include poor depth perception, eyes that do not work together, and reduced visual acuity. Eye exercises for lazy eye vary depending on the severity of the condition and the patient’s needs.
Some common exercises for amblyopia include:
- Art and puzzles: Coloring in a coloring book, putting together a jigsaw puzzle, and other activities requiring significant focus can help strengthen the eyes and reduce the symptoms of amblyopia. These activities can be especially useful for children.
- Pencil pushups treatment: This exercise involves holding a pencil or other object in front of the patient’s face at arm’s length and then moving the pencil closer and closer until the image becomes blurry. This exercise is repeated several times while the patient focuses on the object.
- Brock string exercise: The University of Michigan Health System (UMHS) explains that the Brock String Convergence Insufficiency Exercise can improve the eyes’ ability to work together. The exercise involves tying a string with beads on it to a doorknob or wall and holding the other end of the string up to the patient’s nose. The patient practices focusing on different beads to strengthen eye muscles and reduce problems such as double vision.
- Eye patch therapy: An eye patch may be placed on the stronger eye to strengthen the weaker eye.
Strabismus
Strabismus, or eye misalignment, occurs when one eye points inward or outward. Symptoms include double vision, crossed eyes, loss of vision in one eye, or uncoordinated eye movements. Oculomotor exercises can be used to strengthen the eye muscles and realign the eyes.
Binocular Vision Dysfunction
Ideally, both eyes should work together as a team to allow an individual to see things clearly. Binocular vision is needed for depth perception, tracking movements, and seeing clearly. Binocular vision dysfunction can cause problems such as convergence insufficiency or convergence excess.
How Does Bonita Springs Rehabilitation Therapy Help Your Condition?
Oculomotor exercises are used to reduce symptoms of medical problems and increase eye muscle strength and coordination.
These eye exercises often use motions such as:
- Pursuits: The patient is asked to follow a moving object with their eyes only. The object is moved horizontally, vertically, or in a circular motion. This exercise strengthens the muscles surrounding the eyes.
- Near-far shifting: The patient is asked to focus on an object that is close and then quickly focus on an object that is further away. The process is repeated several times. These types of exercises improve the eyes’ ability to adjust focus quickly.
- Saccadic exercises: These exercises involve making coordinated eye movements between different objects or different points. The patient is asked to shift their gaze rapidly from one point to another.
- Fixation exercises: These exercises involve focusing on a stationary target for periods to improve eye movement and control.
- Convergence and divergence exercises: These oculomotor exercises help a patient improve their ability to focus on objects with both eyes at varying distances.
Our rehabilitation therapy team will teach you how to perform these exercises and explain how often they should be performed to maximize improvement. We will incorporate any ocularmotor exercises into your overall physical therapy plan so that you have a fair chance of making a recovery.
Bonita Springs Oculomotor Exercises Rehabilitation Therapy From Specific Care Chiropractic
When most people think of chiropractic care, they imagine a chiropractor performing manual adjustments on the back or neck. While this is a huge part of what we do at Specific Care Chiropractic, our team also includes physiotherapists who provide a wide range of rehabilitation therapy services. Physiotherapy or physical therapy can help reduce symptoms and improve functioning for people with oculomotor problems.
Our rehabilitation therapy team is committed to providing high-quality care for individuals suffering from oculomotor problems such as double vision, eye misalignment, or blurry vision. We take the time to assess your needs and determine the best way to address your visual challenges. Next, we design personalized oculomotor exercises that will address your unique problems. We will closely monitor your progress throughout treatment, adjusting the treatment plan as needed to meet any difficulties that arise.
We want to ensure that you understand the purpose of the physical therapy exercises to motivate you to complete your treatment plan. If you ever have any questions or concerns throughout your therapy, do not hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to help you improve your life and reduce the symptoms caused by your medical problems. We are here to serve you.
Call Our Bonita Springs Oculomotor Exercises Rehabilitation Therapy Team
Oculomotor exercises are just one example of the physical therapy treatment options available at Specific Care Chiropractic. Our team uses evidence-based techniques to address musculoskeletal pain and problems.
If you would like to learn more about ocularmotor exercises, rehabilitation therapy, or any of the other services we offer at Specific Care Chiropractic, give us a call. We are more than happy to answer your questions and discuss your needs.
Reach out to us at (239) 369-9109 today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
