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Testing the Epley Maneuver for Treating Dizziness in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Study

Evaluating the Efficacy of Epley Maneuver in the Treatment of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo in the Emergency Department: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Status
Not yet recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07111000
Enrollment
118
Registered
2025-08-08
Start date
2025-09-01
Completion date
2026-08-22
Last updated
2025-08-08

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

Conditions

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

Keywords

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV), vertigo, Epley maneuver, Dix-Hallpike Test (DHT)

Brief summary

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of the Epley maneuver versus a sham maneuver in treating patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with BPPV. The main questions that the study aims to answer are: * What is the mean difference in Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores between patients receiving the Epley maneuver and those receiving the sham maneuver 3 days after enrollment? * What is the immediate response (using a 0-10-point Likert scale) of patients in each arm of the study? * What is the proportion of patients who, despite agreeing to participate, were unable to complete the full Epley maneuver due to symptom severity? Researchers will compare the Epley maneuver arm to the sham maneuver arm to see if the Epley maneuver is more effective in reducing BPPV symptoms. Participants will: * Undergo either the Epley maneuver or a sham maneuver. * Complete the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) questionnaire at baseline and 3 days post-discharge. * Patients with insufficient improvement in the sham maneuver group will receive a rescue Epley maneuver. * Have their vertigo severity assessed using a 0-10 point Likert scale at baseline, immediately and post-maneuver.

Interventions

The patient's head is turned 45 degrees towards the side that caused the most nystagmus or reproduced their initial symptoms. The patient is then laid down with their head hanging over the edge of the bed. After that, the head will be rotated 90 degrees in the opposite direction, with the head remaining in a dependent position. The patient is then asked to roll onto their side with their head facing downward. They are then brought back to a sitting position and the head is moved forward 45 degrees. Each position is held until the vertigo and/or nystagmus subsides or for at least 30 seconds

PROCEDURESham maneuver

This control maneuver will involve coordinated movements of the hands and legs, while excluding any head movement. Patients will be at first in a sitting position with both feet on the ground and both hands placed on the thighs and then they will be asked to lift both hands off the thighs, keeping the arms extended. They will then be asked to return to their initial upright sitting position. Patients will then raise their right foot off the ground while keeping the left one planted on the ground. It will be an alternating movement between lifting the right and left feet while maintaining a smooth and well- controlled rhythm for 90 seconds.

Sponsors

American University of Beirut Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

Patients presenting to the ED with symptoms of BPPV (single or recurrent episodes of vertigo lasting up to 2 minutes) and a positive DHT (episode of vertigo associated with torsional upbeating nystagmus) indicating a posterior semicircular canal BPPV. Patients who are able to understand and provide a signed informed consent to participate in the study

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Efficacy of Epley3 daysThe study will compare the average Dizziness Handicap Inventory score change from baseline to day 3 between the Epley maneuver group and the sham maneuver group.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Immediate response of patients15-30 minutes after interventionThe severity of vertigo will be evaluated using both a 0 to 10-point Likert scale before and after applying the Epley/Sham maneuver.
Rate of bounce-back to the ED3 daysCalculate the proportion of patients in each arm of the study who return to the ED.
Proportion of patients unable to undergo the full Epley maneuver15 minutesThe percentage of patients who agreed to participate but could not complete the Epley maneuver due to the severity of their symptoms.

Contacts

Primary ContactEveline Hitti, MD
eh16@aub.edu.lb00961-1-350000

Outcome results

None listed

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