Treatments for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Status

Completed

Phases

Phase 2

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00000359

Enrollment

150

Registered

1999-11-03

Start date

1998-10-31

Completion date

2003-06-30

Last updated

2012-07-26

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Vertigo

Keywords

Physical Therapy, Vertigo, rehabilitation, occupational therapy

Brief summary

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative short- and long-term efficacy of several physical treatment paradigms commonly employed for the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), including the canalith repositioning (Epley) maneuver, the liberatory (Semont) maneuver, the Brandt-Daroff exercises and nonspecific vestibular habituation exercises. These procedures involve exercises and head manipulations. Vertigo intensity and frequency, the presence/absence of slow-phase eye movements, the degree of dizziness handicap and acts of daily living (ADL) were assessed. The study also ascertained the effects of co-morbid conditions on the response to treatment. While BPPV is a common and significant public health problem that has been recognized for several decades, this is the first systematic study of the relative treatment efficacy of different physical treatment modalities for this disorder.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCanalith repositioning maneuver (Epley maneuver)

Standard passive motion of the head: Dix-Hallpike maneuver, turn head to opposite side, roll over, sit up.

BEHAVIORALSemont maneuver

Sidelying maneuver, flip over 180 deg, sit up.

BEHAVIORALBrandt-Daroff exercises

Active exercise. Sidelying to involved side, sidelying to uninvolved side, sit up.

BEHAVIORALVestibular habituation exercises

Head shaking exercises in pitch, roll, yaw and circumduction. Titrating from 2 repetitions per exercise to 20 repetitions per exercise, as tolerated.

BEHAVIORALShamManeuver

Passive movement of the head

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

21 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Patients may be eligible for this study if they: * Are at least 21 years old. * Have a diagnosis of unilateral posterior semicircular canal BPPV according to established clinical test criteria. * Have functional to normal range of motion of the neck and the back.

Exclusion criteria

Patients will not be eligible for this study if they: * Have a history of prior ear surgery or prior treatment for BPPV. * Have an orthopedic or connective tissue disorder that impairs functional neck or trunk range of motion. * Have a significant neurological disorder or spinal cord damage. * Are on vestibular suppressant medications. * Have Meniere's disease or acoustic neuromas.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Vertigo	6 month s

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Balance	6 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026