Effects of Physical Treatment on Postural Stability in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) Patients

Epley Maneuver vs. Semont Maneuver for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): Evaluating Treatment Effectiveness by Postural Stability - a Double Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial.

The propose of this study is to compare two methods of physical treatment for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, by evaluating treatment effects on postural stability.

The trail design is a double blinded randomized controlled trail, with each patient going through three evaluations: before treatment, 1 week after treatment and 60 days after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• medical referral for treating "vertigo"
• subject has short episodes of rotatory vertigo (up to 1 minute)
• subject has positive Hallpike-Dix test with typical nystagmus
• repeated Hallpike-dix test will show fatigability

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hallpike-Dix test produces vertigo without nystagmus
• subject has BPPV of the horizontal or anterior semi-circular canal
• subject has other known vestibular or neurologic condition
• subject has nystagmus of a different type
• subject has a cervical spine problem which prevents the utilization of Epley or Semont maneuvers
• subject is unable to stand for 1 minute
• subject gets pharmacologic treatment for vertigo while doing the postural stability evaluation
• subject is under 18 years old or a pregnant female or cannot obtain informed concent