The Epley maneuver is a technique used to treat BPPV by moving the patient through a series of positions to remove debris causing dizziness. It should be performed by a doctor, and additional therapy may be required in some cases. Patients may feel dizzy after the procedure and should not attempt it at home without medical advice.
The Epley maneuver is a technique used to treat benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This technique moves the patient through a series of positions designed to remove debris in the ear that is causing dizziness. In approximately 70% of cases, the Epley maneuver is very successful and the patient may not require further follow-up treatment. In other cases, additional positional therapy may be required, or more aggressive treatments such as surgery may be required.
When the Epley maneuver is performed, the goal is to move the patient through a series of pre-set positions which will loosen the debris in the ear and resolve the vertigo problem. Doctors strongly recommend doing it in a doctor’s or therapist’s office, for several reasons. The first is that numerous health issues can cause dizziness, so it’s important to make sure that the Epley maneuver is indeed the best treatment for the patient. The second is that the ear behind the vertigo must be correctly identified for the procedure to work, and it is also important to have a doctor present during the Epley maneuver in case the patient experiences any complications.
In this procedure, the patient is first seated on an examination table and their head is tilted by the doctor towards the “bad side” where the ear is behind the problem. Thereafter, the patient is rapidly brought to the supine position and held in the position for approximately one minute before the head is tilted to the other side and held. Next, the patient rolls onto his side, holds the position for one minute, and then sits up abruptly. This cycle is repeated two more times.
During the Epley maneuver, the patient usually feels dizzy and dizzy, which is why the doctor is important, because it provides stability. After the procedure, the patient may feel dizzy from walking for several minutes, and doctors usually recommend that their patients get a ride home from a friend or family member. In the days immediately following the exercises, the head should be held upright and the patient should sleep in a semi-prone position. After about a week, the patient can begin performing normal activities to see if dizziness develops.
At home, patients can use Brandt-Daroff exercises to manage dizziness. Some doctors may even show their patients how to safely perform an Epley maneuver at home. Patients should not attempt to treat dizziness and lightheadedness with home exercises until they have determined the cause of the problem, as the Epley maneuver will resolve nothing but a buildup of calcium carbonate crystals in the ear and can in fact complicate conditions such as tumors.
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