Balance Problems

Balance Problems Study

Randomized trial of the canalith repositioning procedure (CRP) by SUSAN LYNN, M.A.; ANGELA POOL, M.S.; MS. DARRELL ROSE, Ph.D.; ROBERT BREY, Ph.D.; and VERA SUMAN, Ph.D.; Rochester, Minnesota, and Jacksonville, Florida

Thirty-six subjects with confirmed, unilateral benign paroxysmal positioning vertigo of at least 2 months duration were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. After complete informational counseling and explanation of the post-treatment instructions, subjects were randomly assigned to receive either Eply's canalith repositioning procedure or a placebo maneuver. All subjects completed a daily diary for 1 month to document any dizzy spells and their adherence to the post-treatment instructions. Follow-up Dix-Hallpike testing was performed after 1 month by an audiologist who was blinded to the patient's treatment group status. Analysis of Dix-Hallpike results confirmed that those who received the canalith repositioning procedure had significantly more negative responses (88.9 percent) than did those in the placebo group (26.7 percent). (OTOLARYNGOLOGY HEAD NECK SURG 1995;113:712-20.)