Exercises for Vertigo or Dizziness Caused by BPPV

If you have benign paroxysmal position vertigo (BPPV) you may be experiencing vertigo or dizziness that occurs with changing positions. The room may feel like it is spinning and you may feel dizzy or nauseous. Your healthcare provider may perform specific treatments like the Epley Maneuver or Semont Maneuver to help your problem.

Your practitioner may also refer you to physical therapy to help manage the symptoms of BPPV. You may be prescribed balance exercises and habituation exercises to help treat your BPPV. The Brandt-Daroff exercises also can be a useful tool in the self-care program for vertigo.

Brandt-Daroff exercises are used to help accommodate your brain to the changes that occurred when your BPPV first started. These exercises are not used to return crystals to their proper place in your inner ear (that’s what the Epley maneuver is for). They simply help your brain adjust properly to vertigo and spinning sensations you have been feeling.

Follow the step-by-step instructions to start managing the symptoms of BPPV.

Be sure to consult your physical therapist or healthcare provider before starting to be sure that the Brandt-Daroff exercises are safe for you to perform.

1

How to Do the Brandt-Daroff Exercises for Vertigo

man sitting on endge of hospital bed
© Brett Sears, 2011

Start by sitting comfortably on the edge of your bed.

2

Quickly Lie on One Side

man lying down on side in hospital bed
© Brett Sears, 2011

Quickly lie down on one side. It should only take one to two seconds to get into this position. Be sure to keep your head at a 45-degree angle with the bed. To do this, imagine you are looking at a person’s face who is standing about four feet in front of you on the side of your bed.

Getting into this position may bring on your symptoms. This is expected. Remain in this position for 30 seconds or until your symptoms subside. Relax, breathe, and allow the symptoms to pass.

3

Quickly Return to the Sitting Position

man sitting up on hospital bed
© Brett Sears, 2011

Once your vertigo symptoms subside from lying on your side, quickly return to the sitting position. It should only take you one to two seconds to return to the sitting position. Be prepared for your dizzy symptoms to return upon sitting.

Remain in this position for 30 seconds or until your symptoms subside, and then proceed to the next step.

4

Quickly Lie on the Other Side

man lying on a hospital bed
© Brett Sears, 2011

Once your symptoms have subsided after sitting, quickly lie on your opposite side. It should only take you a couple of seconds to get into this position.

Remember that your head should remain at a 45-degree angle in relation to the bed. This position may bring on your dizzy and spinning symptoms. Remain in this position for 30 seconds or until your symptoms subside, then proceed to the final step of the Brandt-Daroff exercises.

5

Quickly Return to the Final Sitting Position

man sitting up on a hospital bed
© Brett Sears, 2011

Once your dizzy and spinning sensations have subsided while lying on your side, quickly return to the sitting position. It should only take a couple of seconds to assume this position. Be careful as you may experience dizzy symptoms upon sitting.

You have now completed one set of Brandt-Daroff exercises for your BPPV.

Repeat five repetitions of Brandt-Daroff exercises three times per day.

Most patients begin to notice improvement of their symptoms after about five to 10 days of Brandt-Daroff exercises. Once your symptoms have resolved, performing Brandt-Daroff exercises a few times per week may help prevent symptoms from returning.

A Word From Verywell

Vertigo and dizziness can be a scary thing, and the symptoms may prevent you from performing your normal activities. If you are experiencing the dizzy and spinning sensations associated with BPPV, check with your healthcare provider and physical therapist to see if Brandt-Daroff exercises are right for you. The exercises may help you return to normal function and may offer a preventive strategy to keep symptoms of vertigo away.

2 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Pérez-Vázquez P, Franco-Gutiérrez V. Treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. A clinical review. J Otol. 2017;12(4):165-173. doi:10.1016/j.joto.2017.08.004

  2. Gupta AK, Sharma KG, Sharma P. Effect of Epley, Semont maneuvers and Brandt–Daroff exercise on quality of life in patients with posterior semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (PSCBPPV). Indian J Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2019;71(1):99-103. doi:10.1007/s12070-018-1322-7

By Brett Sears, PT
Brett Sears, PT, MDT, is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience in orthopedic and hospital-based therapy.