HealthInfo Canterbury
These exercises are recommended to help people with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A doctor or specially trained physiotherapist will decide if they are suitable for you
Watch this video about how a doctor does the Epley manoeuvre.
The Epley manoeuvre has been shown to improve symptoms in about 50% of people with BPPV. It involves four separate head movements to move the fragments that cause vertigo to a place where they no longer cause symptoms.
Your symptoms should improve shortly after the Epley manoeuvre is performed, although it may take up to two weeks for a complete recovery.
Tell your doctor if your symptoms haven't improved after four weeks. The Epley manoeuvre isn't usually a long-term cure and may need to be repeated.
Sometimes the Epley manoeuvre is not successful or unsuitable, for example if you have neck or back problems. In those cases, your doctor may recommend Brandt-Daroff exercises.
Watch this video about how to do Brandt-Daroff exercises.
The Brandt-Daroff exercises are designed to break up the fragments and unblock the ear canal.
You will need to repeat these exercises three or four times a day for two days in a row. Your symptoms may improve for up to two weeks.
Your doctor will teach you how to these exercises. The following is a guide:
For the exercises to be helpful, you must experience the symptoms of dizziness. If the exercises are done regularly, the symptoms should resolve over a period of several days in most cases.
On the next page: Self-care for vertigo
Content shared between HealthInfo Canterbury, KidsHealth and Health Navigator NZ as part of a National Health Content Hub collaborative. Page created May 2020.
Review key: HIVER-17706