Benign positional vertigo (BPV) or benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a condition in which calcium carbonate crystals dislodged in the inner ear cause symptoms of dizziness, nausea and vomiting. The condition is highly uncomfortable and can be debilitating for some people. Treatment for BPV includes various head maneuvers designed to move the crystals away from the inner ear. Exercises to help with benign positional vertigo can relieve symptoms in many patients.
Epley Maneuver
The Epley maneuver, invented by Dr. John Epley, uses a series of four separate head positions to relieve the symptoms of benign positional vertigo, according to physician Timothy C. Hain. Because the movements themselves can cause nausea, patients are sometimes given anti-nausea medications before the Epley maneuver is performed. Because the Epley maneuver uses positions that compress the arteries in the neck, it should always be performed by a trained physician, since compression that lasts too long or is done incorrectly may cause stroke or other neurological symptoms.
Semont Maneuver
The Semont maneuver is an alternative to the Epley maneuver that may be performed at home, according to physician Timothy C. Hain. Performing the Semont maneuver includes lying down on your side, then turning your head and body from side to side to dislodge the calcium carbonate crystals in the inner ear. Although the Semont maneuver is not currently favored in the United States, some physicians find that its success rate is similar to the Epley maneuver.
Brandt-Dardoff Exercises
Brandt-Dardoff Exercises may be used when the physician suspects but cannot accurately diagnose benign positional vertigo, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center's Hearing and Balance Center. They begin with the patient sitting on the edge of a bed, with the legs dangling over the edge. The patient quickly lies down on the right side, with the head turned 45 degrees so the eyes face the ceiling. This position is held for 30 seconds or until any dizziness passes. The patient then sits upright, head straight forward, and holds this position for 30 seconds. The patient then repeats the exercise, this time lying down on the right side. This entire sequence should be performed five times in a row. Each "set" of five sequences should be performed two or three times a day for two or three weeks, after which the patient should be reevaluated for BPV.
