When you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common type of vertigo, calcium crystals in your inner ear become detached, leading to the perception that things around you are moving. If you are diagnosed with BPPV, your healthcare provider may give you step-by-step instructions on how to do exercises to reposition these crystals.
Epley Maneuver
The Epley maneuver, also called “canalith repositioning,” involves a series of head and body movements to move crystals out of the semicircular canals of your inner ear. It is generally considered safe and effective.
A doctor or healthcare professional will typically perform the maneuver on you. But you also may receive instructions to do it at home.
Typically, BPPV occurs in only one ear. If your right ear is effected, the steps for the at-home Epley maneuver are as follows:
- Sit upright on a bed with a pillow behind you.
- Turn your head 45 degrees to the right side.
- Quickly lie down on your back with your head still turned. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds.
- Slowly turn your head 90 degrees to the left side without lifting your neck and wait for 30 seconds.
- Turn your whole body and head another 90 degrees to the left side and wait for 30 more seconds.
- Slowly sit up.
- Repeat these steps if needed, up to three times on the problematic side.
Change sides if the issue is with your left ear. You might feel symptoms of vertigo during the treatment.
Semont Maneuver
The Semont maneuver is similar to the Epley maneuver, but it doesn’t require as much neck flexibility. A healthcare professional will typically perform it on you, but you may do it at home too.
Here’s how it works for the left ear:
- Sit on the edge of your bed.
- Turn your head 45 degrees to the right and quickly lie down on your left side. Hold this position for one minute.
- Quickly reposition yourself to lie on your right side without changing the orientation of your head (so now you are looking diagonally downward toward the floor). Hold this position for one minute.
- Slowly return to sitting at the edge of your bed and keep your head level for 10 minutes.
Change sides for your right ear.
Brandt-Daroff Exercise
The Brandt-Daroff method is another way to reposition crystals in the inner ear. It involves the following steps:
- Sit upright on the edge of a bed.
- Turn your head 45 degrees to the left, then lie down on your right side. Hold this position for 30 seconds or until dizziness goes away.
- Sit up and turn your head back to the center.
- Turn your head 45 degrees to the right side and then lie down on your left side. Hold this position for 30 seconds or until dizziness goes away.
- Sit up and turn your head back to the center.
Read the full article here
