Self-Treatment of Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Preliminary Study.

The purpose of this study is to investigate a modified Epley maneuver for self-treatment of posterior canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PC-BPPV). The study recruited 155 patients with PC-BPPV. All patients were randomized into the Epley maneuver group ( = 77) and modified Epley maneuver group ( = 78). We analyzed the resolution rate (1 day and 1 week), residual symptoms after the maneuver, and adverse effects. It was found that the modified Epley maneuver group had a higher resolution rate than that of the Epley maneuver group in the treatment of PC-BPPV after 1 day of the initial maneuver ( < 0.05). However, there was no difference in resolution rate between the Epley maneuver group and the modified Epley maneuver group in resolution rate after 1 week of the initial maneuver ( > 0.05). The modified Epley maneuver group had fewer residual symptoms than that of the Epley maneuver group 1 week after treatment of PC-BPPV ( < 0.05). Significant improvements were also observed in average DHI scores in patients who underwent the modified Epley maneuver compared to the Epley maneuver ( < 0.05). There was no significant difference in adverse effects between the two groups ( > 0.05). The modified Epley maneuver has a satisfactory therapeutic efficacy with less residual symptoms and could be recommended as a self-treatment for patients with PC-BPPV.