Generally, the Epley maneuver is not recommended for patients who have vertigo from other conditions, such as migraines, ear infections, anemia, or a cerebellar stroke. Once you have seen the Epley maneuver performed by a doctor, you can perform it at home to relieve your symptoms.
The maneuver involves positioning the head into specific angles to provoke vertigo for a period of 30 seconds, then moving the head 90 degrees to the opposite side for another 30 seconds. Next, the patient is placed on his or her side with the head angled downward at a 45-degree angle for 30 seconds and then brought back upright.
Most patients experience symptom relief after the Epley maneuver is performed. In rare cases, the Epley maneuver will not relieve your symptoms and you will need to have surgery on the ear canal.
It is safe and easy to perform at home and often relieves the dizziness, spinning, and other symptoms that make vertigo so frustrating and even harmful to those at risk of falls.
The Epley maneuver involves a series of head movements specifically to relieve symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo or BPPV. It does so by moving the canaliths out of the canals, so they stop causing vertigo symptoms.
If you experience vertigo for more than a day or you are having regular bouts that are affecting your daily life, you should go and see your ENT to get help alleviating the symptoms and to find out what the cause could be.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have symptoms common to BPPV . After an initial examination, your doctor may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a doctor who specializes in the brain and nervous system (neurologist).
If a build-up of fluids in the inner ear causes vertigo, prescription medications are the first point of call. In this case, antibiotics or antihistamines are helpful. Sometimes, because nausea, and in some cases, vomiting, accompany vertigo, the ENT doctor may prescribe motion sickness medications to provide relief.
If your vertigo comes back, do home Epley maneuver again to see if your symptoms go away. If the maneuver doesn't work, call your healthcare provider.
Poor neck posture, neck disorders, or trauma to the cervical spine cause this condition. Cervical vertigo often results from a head injury that disrupts head and neck alignment, or whiplash. This dizziness most often occurs after moving your neck, and can also affect your sense of balance and concentration.
0:512:17Vertigo Cure (BPPV) Self Treatment Video - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPosition. Hold this position until the spinning stops. Now quickly return to the upright kneelingMorePosition. Hold this position until the spinning stops. Now quickly return to the upright kneeling position keeping your head turned. And hold for 30 seconds.
Johns Hopkins neurologists have treated many people with BPPV, and use techniques that can help relieve symptoms during an in-office appointment.
The Epley and Semont manoeuvres are exercises used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). They are done with the help of a doctor or physiotherapist. A single 10- to 15-minute session usually is all that's needed.
Diagnosing Vertigo A patient with chronic vertigo symptoms should see an otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist). The doctor will conduct a physical exam and order tests and scans to determine the cause of the vertigo.
Your family doctor or primary care provider will probably be able to diagnose and treat the cause of your dizziness. He or she you may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist or a doctor who specializes in the brain and nervous system (neurologist).
A doctor or vestibular physical therapist (PT) can show you how to do self-repositioning BPPV exercises at home. Collectively called the Epley maneuver, they move the ear crystals back into place, and are easy to do on a bed or the floor.
You will sit on the doctor's exam table with your legs extended in front of you. The doctor will turn your head so that it is halfway between looking straight ahead and looking directly to the side that causes the worst vertigo. Without changing your head position, the doctor will guide you back quickly so that your shoulders are on the table but your head is hanging over the edge of the table. In this position, the side of your head that is causing the worst vertigo is facing the floor. The doctor will hold you in this position for 30 seconds or until your vertigo stops.
(For example, if you are looking to your right, you will roll onto your right side.) The side that causes the worst vertigo should be facing up. The doctor will hold you in this position for another 30 seconds or until your vertigo stops.
When your head is firmly moved into different positions, the calcium crystal (canalith) debris that causes vertigo also moves . The debris will slip out of the semicircular canal into an area of the inner ear where it will no longer cause symptoms. Two maneuvers have been used successfully: the Epley maneuver and the Semont maneuver.
The Semont maneuver is done with the help of a doctor or physical therapist. A single 10- to 15-minute session usually is all that is needed. When your head is firmly moved into different positions, the crystal debris (canaliths) causing vertigo moves freely and no longer causes symptoms.
The doctor will hold you in this position for 30 seconds or until your vertigo stops.
The Epley and Semont maneuvers may improve or cure benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) with only one treatment . Some people need multiple treatments.
The doctor turns your head so that it is halfway between looking straight ahead and looking away from the side that causes the worst vertigo.
The Epley maneuver is a safe and effective treatment used to relieve symptoms of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
Your doctor may perform the Epley maneuver to help patients who are experiencing dizziness and nausea associated with BPPV.
During the Epley maneuver, your doctor will perform the following steps:
Ask you to extend your legs out in front of you while sitting on an exam table. Rotate your head at a 45-degree angle toward the side of the body where you are experiencing the worst vertigo. Quickly push you back so you are lying with your shoulder blades touching the table.
Roll you onto your side so that the side experiencing the worst vertigo is facing upward.
Patients who have been diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo may find symptom relief after the Epley maneuver.
The Epley maneuver, also known as the canalith repositioning maneuver or particle repositioning maneuver, is a series of exercises used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
Most patients experience symptom relief after the Epley maneuver is performed. In rare cases, the Epley maneuver will not relieve your symptoms and you will need to have surgery on the ear canal.