Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBreathing ExercisesOther Exercises

Table of ContentsView All

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Table of Contents

Breathing Exercises

Other Exercises

Breathing exercises are a relaxation technique that may help during avertigoattack.Vertigois a sensation that makes you feel like the room around you is spinning. It can occur due to several causes.

This article will discuss three types of breathing exercises for vertigo and other types of exercises used for the condition.

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Person lying on yoga mat doing breathing exericises

Breathing Exercises for Vertigo

There are several causes of vertigo, including ear infections, migraine, anxiety, orbenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). Vertigo can also occur with other health conditions, or it may be a side effect of certain medications.

Depending on the underlying cause, vertigo often occurs with other uncomfortable symptoms, such as dizziness, loss of balance, or nausea. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises may help during a vertigo attack.

Attacks of vertigo in BPPV last less than a minute to a few minutes for many people.In other disorders and for some people, an attack might last longer.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

How to do it:

Buteyko Breathing: A Complementary Technique

Pursed-Lip Breathing

Alternate Nostril Breathing

Alternate nostril breathing is a technique that is often done in yoga (called Nadi Shodhanpranayama). This type of breathing has a calming effect on the nervous system and has been shown to decrease blood pressure.

Other Exercises for Vertigo

The exercises used will be different depending on where in the ear the crystals have become dislodged, such as the posterior canal or the lateral canal.

Use Caution With These ExercisesBefore you attempt exercises for BPPV, see a healthcare provider to determine that BPPV and not something else is the cause of your vertigo and to determine which ear canal is affected. Maneuvers for posterior canal BPPV may delay healing if you have lateral canal BPPV.It’s also a good idea to have your healthcare provider show you how to do these exercises before attempting them on your own. Performing them incorrectly can make your symptoms worse.

Use Caution With These Exercises

Before you attempt exercises for BPPV, see a healthcare provider to determine that BPPV and not something else is the cause of your vertigo and to determine which ear canal is affected. Maneuvers for posterior canal BPPV may delay healing if you have lateral canal BPPV.It’s also a good idea to have your healthcare provider show you how to do these exercises before attempting them on your own. Performing them incorrectly can make your symptoms worse.

Before you attempt exercises for BPPV, see a healthcare provider to determine that BPPV and not something else is the cause of your vertigo and to determine which ear canal is affected. Maneuvers for posterior canal BPPV may delay healing if you have lateral canal BPPV.

It’s also a good idea to have your healthcare provider show you how to do these exercises before attempting them on your own. Performing them incorrectly can make your symptoms worse.

Epley Maneuver

The Epley maneuver can stop vertigo symptoms quickly for many people.Others may continue to have minor symptoms or need to repeat it.

Brandt-Daroff Exercise

Brandt-Daroff exercisesfollow these steps:

Dizziness During BPPV ExercisesIt’s normal to experience dizziness or even nausea during BPPV exercises, particularly when you first begin and when you are quickly changing positions. Take your time and focus on your breathing to help your symptoms subside. Be patient—your symptoms will improve quicker the more you practice these exercises.

Dizziness During BPPV Exercises

It’s normal to experience dizziness or even nausea during BPPV exercises, particularly when you first begin and when you are quickly changing positions. Take your time and focus on your breathing to help your symptoms subside. Be patient—your symptoms will improve quicker the more you practice these exercises.

Semont Maneuver

Here’s how theSemont maneuveris performed if your right side is affected:

Stay upright for several hours after you’ve done the Semont maneuver to help the repositioned crystals in your inner ear stay in the correct spot.

Foster Maneuver

The Foster maneuver—sometimes called the half somersault maneuver—is performed following these steps if the right ear is affected (reverse for the left).Remain in each position until symptoms subside.

Summary

How Long Does Vertigo Last?

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bressi F, Vella P, Casale M, Moffa A, Sabatino L, Lopez MA, Carinci F, Papalia R, Salvinelli F, Sterzi S.Vestibular rehabilitation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: reality or fiction?Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2017;30(2):113-122. doi:10.1177/0394632017709917von Brevern M, Lempert T.Vestibular migraine: treatment and prognosis.Semin Neurol. 2020;40(1):83-86. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402067Popkirov S, Stone J, Holle-Lee D.Treatment of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) and related disorders.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2018;20(12):50. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0535-0MedlinePlus.Benign positional vertigo.Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: breath control helps quell errant stress response.Sakhaei S, Sadagheyani HE, Zinalpoor S, Markani AK, Motaarefi H.The impact of pursed-lips breathing maneuver on cardiac, respiratory, and oxygenation parameters in copd patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(10):1851-1856. doi:10.3889%2Foamjms.2018.407COPD Foundation.Breathing techniques.Kalaivani S, Kumari M, Pal G.Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product among patients with hypertension in JIPMER, Puducherry.J Educ Health Promot. 2019;8:145. doi:10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_32_19Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.Choi SY, Cho JW, Choi JH, Oh EH, Choi KD.Effect of the Epley maneuver and Brandt-Daroff exercise on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior semicircular canal cupulolithiasis: a randomized clinical trial.Front Neurol. 2020;11:603541. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2020.603541Obrist D, Nienhaus A, Zamaro E, Kalla R, Mantokoudis G, Strupp M.Determinants for a successful Sémont maneuver: an in vitro study with a semicircular canal model.Front Neurol. 2016;7:150. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2016.00150Dehghani Khaftari M, Ahadi M, Maarefvand M, Jalaei B.The efficacy of the half somersault maneuver in comparison to the epley maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.J Int Adv Otol. 2021;17(5):417-421. doi:10.5152%2Fiao.2021.9072

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bressi F, Vella P, Casale M, Moffa A, Sabatino L, Lopez MA, Carinci F, Papalia R, Salvinelli F, Sterzi S.Vestibular rehabilitation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: reality or fiction?Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2017;30(2):113-122. doi:10.1177/0394632017709917von Brevern M, Lempert T.Vestibular migraine: treatment and prognosis.Semin Neurol. 2020;40(1):83-86. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402067Popkirov S, Stone J, Holle-Lee D.Treatment of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) and related disorders.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2018;20(12):50. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0535-0MedlinePlus.Benign positional vertigo.Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: breath control helps quell errant stress response.Sakhaei S, Sadagheyani HE, Zinalpoor S, Markani AK, Motaarefi H.The impact of pursed-lips breathing maneuver on cardiac, respiratory, and oxygenation parameters in copd patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(10):1851-1856. doi:10.3889%2Foamjms.2018.407COPD Foundation.Breathing techniques.Kalaivani S, Kumari M, Pal G.Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product among patients with hypertension in JIPMER, Puducherry.J Educ Health Promot. 2019;8:145. doi:10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_32_19Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.Choi SY, Cho JW, Choi JH, Oh EH, Choi KD.Effect of the Epley maneuver and Brandt-Daroff exercise on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior semicircular canal cupulolithiasis: a randomized clinical trial.Front Neurol. 2020;11:603541. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2020.603541Obrist D, Nienhaus A, Zamaro E, Kalla R, Mantokoudis G, Strupp M.Determinants for a successful Sémont maneuver: an in vitro study with a semicircular canal model.Front Neurol. 2016;7:150. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2016.00150Dehghani Khaftari M, Ahadi M, Maarefvand M, Jalaei B.The efficacy of the half somersault maneuver in comparison to the epley maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.J Int Adv Otol. 2021;17(5):417-421. doi:10.5152%2Fiao.2021.9072

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Bressi F, Vella P, Casale M, Moffa A, Sabatino L, Lopez MA, Carinci F, Papalia R, Salvinelli F, Sterzi S.Vestibular rehabilitation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: reality or fiction?Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2017;30(2):113-122. doi:10.1177/0394632017709917von Brevern M, Lempert T.Vestibular migraine: treatment and prognosis.Semin Neurol. 2020;40(1):83-86. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402067Popkirov S, Stone J, Holle-Lee D.Treatment of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) and related disorders.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2018;20(12):50. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0535-0MedlinePlus.Benign positional vertigo.Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: breath control helps quell errant stress response.Sakhaei S, Sadagheyani HE, Zinalpoor S, Markani AK, Motaarefi H.The impact of pursed-lips breathing maneuver on cardiac, respiratory, and oxygenation parameters in copd patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(10):1851-1856. doi:10.3889%2Foamjms.2018.407COPD Foundation.Breathing techniques.Kalaivani S, Kumari M, Pal G.Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product among patients with hypertension in JIPMER, Puducherry.J Educ Health Promot. 2019;8:145. doi:10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_32_19Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.Choi SY, Cho JW, Choi JH, Oh EH, Choi KD.Effect of the Epley maneuver and Brandt-Daroff exercise on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior semicircular canal cupulolithiasis: a randomized clinical trial.Front Neurol. 2020;11:603541. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2020.603541Obrist D, Nienhaus A, Zamaro E, Kalla R, Mantokoudis G, Strupp M.Determinants for a successful Sémont maneuver: an in vitro study with a semicircular canal model.Front Neurol. 2016;7:150. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2016.00150Dehghani Khaftari M, Ahadi M, Maarefvand M, Jalaei B.The efficacy of the half somersault maneuver in comparison to the epley maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.J Int Adv Otol. 2021;17(5):417-421. doi:10.5152%2Fiao.2021.9072

Bressi F, Vella P, Casale M, Moffa A, Sabatino L, Lopez MA, Carinci F, Papalia R, Salvinelli F, Sterzi S.Vestibular rehabilitation in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: reality or fiction?Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2017;30(2):113-122. doi:10.1177/0394632017709917

von Brevern M, Lempert T.Vestibular migraine: treatment and prognosis.Semin Neurol. 2020;40(1):83-86. doi:10.1055/s-0039-3402067

Popkirov S, Stone J, Holle-Lee D.Treatment of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD) and related disorders.Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2018;20(12):50. doi:10.1007/s11940-018-0535-0

MedlinePlus.Benign positional vertigo.

Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: breath control helps quell errant stress response.

Sakhaei S, Sadagheyani HE, Zinalpoor S, Markani AK, Motaarefi H.The impact of pursed-lips breathing maneuver on cardiac, respiratory, and oxygenation parameters in copd patients.Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2018;6(10):1851-1856. doi:10.3889%2Foamjms.2018.407

COPD Foundation.Breathing techniques.

Kalaivani S, Kumari M, Pal G.Effect of alternate nostril breathing exercise on blood pressure, heart rate, and rate pressure product among patients with hypertension in JIPMER, Puducherry.J Educ Health Promot. 2019;8:145. doi:10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_32_19

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Home Epley maneuver.

Choi SY, Cho JW, Choi JH, Oh EH, Choi KD.Effect of the Epley maneuver and Brandt-Daroff exercise on benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the posterior semicircular canal cupulolithiasis: a randomized clinical trial.Front Neurol. 2020;11:603541. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2020.603541

Obrist D, Nienhaus A, Zamaro E, Kalla R, Mantokoudis G, Strupp M.Determinants for a successful Sémont maneuver: an in vitro study with a semicircular canal model.Front Neurol. 2016;7:150. doi:10.3389%2Ffneur.2016.00150

Dehghani Khaftari M, Ahadi M, Maarefvand M, Jalaei B.The efficacy of the half somersault maneuver in comparison to the epley maneuver in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.J Int Adv Otol. 2021;17(5):417-421. doi:10.5152%2Fiao.2021.9072

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