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Positional vertigo: vestibular rehabilitation exercises for at home

Most sufferers of positional vertigo can actively do something about their condition. We have compiled the most common rescue maneuvers for you.

Medical clarification of dizziness

Before undertaking these treatments, please consult a doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis and an appropriate treatment plan for your vertigo condition. To be treated at the USZ Vertigo Center, you should be referred by your family doctor or specialist.

The Epley release maneuver for the right posterior semicircular canal

  1. Sit on a bed.
  2. Turn your head 45° to the right.
  3. Lie on your back with your head stretched backwards. It is best to hang your head over the edge of the bed. If this is not possible, you can support your shoulder with a pillow. Remain in this position for 1 minute.
  4. Turn your head 90° to the left without lifting it. Wait 1 minute again.
  5. Roll your body and head 90° to the left so that you are looking down at an angle. Wait 1 minute.
  6. Do not roll back, but sit up directly from this position. Make sure that your chin is tilted towards your chest when sitting up.

Important: In rare cases, you may feel a sudden pull to the side after sitting up, as if someone is pulling you violently to the side. Hold on to the edge of the bed and wait 1 minute before slowly getting up.

  1. Sit on the bed.
  2. Turn the head 45° to the left.
  3. Lie on your back so that your head is stretched backwards. It is best to hang it over the edge of the bed (see illustration). If this is not possible, you can support your shoulders with a pillow. Wait 1 minute in this position.
  4. Turn the head 90° to the right without lifting it. Wait 1 minute here too.
  5. Roll your body and head 90° to the right so that you are looking down at an angle. Wait 1 minute again.
  6. Sit up directly from this position without rolling back. Make sure that your chin is tilted towards your chest.

Important: It may rarely happen that you feel as if you are being pulled to one side immediately after sitting up. Hold on to the edge of the bed and wait 1 minute before carefully getting up.

  1. Sit on a bed.
  2. Lie down with your whole body to the left. Wait 2 minutes in this position.
  3. Turn the head downwards by 45°. Wait 1 minute.
  4. Sit up again from this position.

Important: In rare cases, you may feel a sudden pull to the side after sitting up, as if someone is pulling you violently to the side. Hold on to the edge of the bed and wait 1 minute before slowly getting up.

  1. Sit on a bed.
  2. Lie down with your whole body to the right. Wait 2 minutes in this position.
  3. Turn the head downwards by 45°. Wait 1 minute.
  4. Sit up again from this position.

Important: In rare cases, you may feel a sudden pull to the side after sitting up, as if someone is pulling you violently to the side. Hold on to the edge of the bed and wait 1 minute before slowly getting up.

It is important to stay active and make regular movements that promote balance, even if you suffer acutely from benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Your doctor can determine whether and which of the exercises presented above is most suitable for you with a detailed diagnosis. As soon as it is clear which ear and which semicircular canal are affected, the appropriate maneuver can be selected and performed with you. If you need to do further exercises at home, a healthcare professional will go through the procedure for each maneuver with you and guide you the first time.

If you do the vestibular rehabilitation exercises shown to you by your doctor at home, do them carefully and cautiously, as the movements can increase the dizziness and provoke nausea. Ideally, you should have someone at your side to support you during the exercises.