If you have developed dizziness and spinning sensations that occur as you move your head or change positions, then you may havebenign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). This is a common cause of vertigo, and it can limit your ability to move around normally due to severe spinning sensations.
You may benefit from the services of a physical therapist specializing in vestibular issues if you have vertigo from BPPV. They will evaluate your condition and provide strategies to eliminate your symptoms. One such strategy is to use the Semont maneuver, also known as the liberatory maneuver.
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What Is BPPV?
Correct treatment involves attempting to reposition the canaliths to help diminish your dizziness. Treatment may also focus on strategies to help you prevent future problems with BPPV.
If your physical therapist suspects that the canaliths are out of place and in the posterior canal of your vestibular organ, they may try to reposition them with the Semont maneuver.
Performing the Semont Maneuver
The Semont maneuver is one specific treatment that your physical therapist may use to help treat your BPPV. It is a simple procedure that should help your vertigo subside.
Your physical therapist will perform the Semont maneuver with you to ensure it is done properly and to make sure you remain safe during the procedure.
This is what you can expect during the Semont maneuver:
After the Semont maneuver is performed, you should try to remain upright for a few hours. Your PT may ask that you sleep with your head propped up on a few pillows to help you remain slightly upright overnight.
The Semont maneuver is used to reposition the calcium crystals in your vestibular system. If successful, your vertigo symptoms should be clear rapidly within a day or two. If they remain, your PT may choose to have you perform a different exercise called theEpley maneuver.
Sometimes both the Semont andEpley maneuversare not fully effective in relieving your symptoms. Your physical therapist may prescribeBrandt Daroff exercisesto help treat your BPPV. These exercises are not intended to reposition the calcium crystals in your vestibular system. Rather, they are used to help your body habituate and compensate for your BPPV.
A Word From Verywell
1 SourceVerywell 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.Cleveland Clinic.Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.Additional ReadingSen K, Sarkar A, Raghavan A.Comparative efficacy of Epley and Semont maneuver in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A prospective randomized double-blind study.Astrocyte.2016;3(2), 96.
1 Source
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.Cleveland Clinic.Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.Additional ReadingSen K, Sarkar A, Raghavan A.Comparative efficacy of Epley and Semont maneuver in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A prospective randomized double-blind study.Astrocyte.2016;3(2), 96.
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.
Cleveland Clinic.Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.
Sen K, Sarkar A, Raghavan A.Comparative efficacy of Epley and Semont maneuver in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: A prospective randomized double-blind study.Astrocyte.2016;3(2), 96.
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