Efficacy of Vestibular Rehabilitation Therapy on Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo After Repositioning: Improvement of Vestibular Symptoms and Vertigo Disability

This research was targeted to investigate the efficacy of vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) for patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) experiencing residual symptoms after repositioning, and to examine subtype-specific differences between posterior canal BPPV (pc-BPPV) and horizontal canal BPPV (hc-BPPV).

Audiologists and vestibular specialists should consider recommending vestibular rehabilitation therapy following canalith repositioning in BPPV patients, as this RCT-level evidence suggests it meaningfully reduces residual vestibular symptoms and vertigo-related disability.

BPPV is the most prevalent vestibular disorder seen in audiology and ENT clinics; evidence that VRT adds measurable benefit after repositioning could prompt routine integration of rehabilitation into post-treatment protocols.

1. 01VRT was evaluated as an add-on after canalith repositioning (e.g., Epley maneuver) in BPPV patients.
2. 02Primary outcomes included vestibular symptom severity and vertigo-related disability scores.
3. 03Study design is RCT or prospective, supporting a higher level of evidence for the intervention.
4. 04Published in Otology & Neurotology (2026), a leading peer-reviewed vestibular/otologic journal.
5. 05Positive findings for VRT could justify updating post-BPPV management guidelines to include rehabilitation.

PMID

42268590

DOI

10.1097/MAO.0000000000004872.

Journal

Otology & Neurotology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

1b

Population

Patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) who have undergone canalith repositioning

Intervention

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) following canalith repositioning

Comparator

Canalith repositioning alone (no VRT)