Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffWith appropriate instruction, the canalith repositioning procedure can be done at home. For the first attempt, however, these maneuvers should always be performed under the supervision of a medical professional due to certain risks involved, such as:
- Neck or back injury
- Movement of the otoconia into a canal other than the utricle, which could continue to cause vertigo
- Side effects, including feelings of nausea, dizziness and lightheadedness, which may require medication to relieve
Make sure you tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have, such as a neck or back condition, a detached retina, or vascular problems, before beginning the canalith repositioning procedure. You may need to delay having the canalith repositioning procedure.
References
- Canalith repositioning procedure — for treatment of BPPV. Vestibular Disorders Association. http://vestibular.org/understanding-vestibular-disorders/treatment/canalith-repositioning-procedure-bppv. Accessed March 20, 2012.
- Lalwani AK. Current Diagnosis & Treatment in Otolaryngology — Head & Neck Surgery. 3rd ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=55771949. Accessed March 19, 2012.
- Clinical practice guideline: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. http://www.entnet.org/Practice/loader.cfm?csModule=security%2fgetfile&pageid=33697. Accessed March 19, 2012.
- Helminski JO, et al. Effectiveness of particle repositioning maneuvers in the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A systematic review. Physical Therapy. 2010;90:663.
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/sec08/ch086/ch086c.html#CIHHFCEC. Accessed March 19, 2012.
Find Mayo Clinic on