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Published on: August 30, 2019
Daily exercise does not prevent recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
Janet Odry Helminski1, Imke Janssen, Timothy Carl Hain
1Department of Physical Therapy, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, Illinois, USA. jhelmi@midwestern.edu
Summary
Daily self-canalith repositioning procedures (CRP) did not significantly alter the recurrence rate or time to recurrence for patients with posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Further research is needed to explore preventative strategies for BPPV.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Otolaryngology
- Vestibular Disorders
Background:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common vestibular disorder characterized by brief episodes of intense vertigo.
- Recurrence of BPPV is frequent, impacting patients' quality of life.
- The canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) is an effective treatment for BPPV, but its role in preventing recurrence is less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether a daily routine of self-canalith repositioning procedure (self-CRP) can reduce the recurrence rate and increase the time to recurrence of posterior canal BPPV.
- To evaluate the efficacy of self-administered CRP as a preventative measure for BPPV.
Main Methods:
- A prospective, nonrandomized study was conducted in an outpatient clinic.
- Thirty-nine patients with posterior canal BPPV, successfully treated with CRP, were divided into a treatment group (n=17) performing daily self-CRP and a control group (n=22) performing no exercises.
- Patients were followed for up to two years to assess BPPV recurrence.
Main Results:
- The overall recurrence rate was 41%, with 35% in the treatment group and 46% in the control group.
- There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of recurrence (p=0.522) or the time to recurrence (p=0.242) between the two groups.
- Patient adherence and follow-up rates varied between groups.
Conclusions:
- A daily routine of self-canalith repositioning procedures does not appear to significantly affect the time to recurrence or the rate of recurrence of posterior canal BPPV.
- The findings suggest that self-CRP may not be an effective strategy for preventing BPPV recurrence.
- Further investigation into long-term preventative strategies for BPPV is warranted.
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