Vertigo Treatment

What is Vertigo? Vertigo is often caused by the displacement of small calcium carbonate crystals (or canaliths), within your inner ear. This is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV. The Epley Manoeuvre is a method to remove these crystals trapped in your ear’s semicircular canal to relieve symptoms.

What is the Treatment? Your physiotherapist (Jono or Rebecca) will ask you to sit on the treatment bed and take you through a series of head movements and then ask you to lie down for further movements (called the Epley Manoeuvre).

It is a pain-free treatment that has proved very successful (about 8 in 10 people) and your physio will be able to give you further exercises and movement procedures to do at home, if needed.

How does it work? Tiny calcium crystals in your ear get loose and float into the wrong canal. This causes sudden spinning or dizziness when you move your head.  Gravity guides the loose crystals back to the correct area during the movements.

Can you do it yourself? Yes. Your physiotherapist may teach you how to do the Epley manoeuvre at home (or Brandt-Daroff exercises) in case your symptoms come back. You’ll sit on the edge of your bed and follow the steps Jono or Rebecca led you through in the clinic. For best results, you may need to perform the manoeuvre multiple times.

Are there any risks to the treatment? There are very few risks with the Epley manoeuvre, but it may not be the best option if you have neck or back injuries, retinal detachment or vascular disease. Your physiotherapist or doctor will check your medical history beforehand to ensure the treatment is safe.