Effectiveness of the Epley maneuver versus Cawthorne-Cooksey vestibular exercises in the treatment of posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of peripheral vertigo that mainly affects the posterior semicircular canal. Studies suggest that Epley maneuver could improve balance of patients, but Cawthorne-Cooksey vestibular exercises are still scarce. This study aimed to observe the effects of Cawthorne-Cooksey vestibular exercises applied after the Epley maneuver on balance, vertigo symptoms, and quality of life in posterior semicircular canal BPPV.

Methods: Thirty-six patients with posterior semicircular canal BPPV were randomly assigned into Epley maneuver (EpleyM) and Epley maneuver and exercise (EpleyM&Exe) groups. All patients were treated with the Epley maneuver, while Cawthorne-Cooksey vestibular exercises were given to the EpleyM&Exe group as home exercises for 6 weeks. Their static and dynamic balance, vertigo symptoms, and quality of life were assessed at pre-, post-intervention (1st, 3rd and 6th weeks).

Results: Thirty-two patients completed the study (mean age: 46.91 ± 9.78 years). Epley maneuver applied alone and combined with Cawthorne-Cooksey vestibular exercises, was found to be effective in 25 patients (78.1%), 6 patients (18.8%) and 1 patient (3.1%) at the 1st, 3rd and 6th weeks, respectively. After 6 weeks, both groups had gained significant improvements in balance, vertigo symptoms, and quality of life (p < 0.001); however, there were no significant differences between the groups, except for the static dominant leg balance test (p = 0.022).

Conclusions: The Epley maneuver can be considered as the first option compared to Cawthorne-Cooksey vestibular exercises. Exercises do not appear to have any additional effects in improving posterior semicircular canal BPPV symptoms.