title: Strategies to prevent recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if a daily routine of Brandt-Daroff exercises increases the time to recurrence and reduces the rate of recurrence of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Random sample of convenience and retrospective case review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center and outpatient clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred sixteen patients diagnosed with BPPV involving the posterior semicircular canal (BPPV-PC) who were successfully treated with the canalith repositioning procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients in the treatment group (n = 43) performed daily Brandt-Daroff exercises, while patients in the no-treatment group (n = 73) performed no exercises.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up was as long as 2 years. Every 2 months patients were mailed a questionnaire. If BPPV had recurred, patients contacted the principal investigator within 24 hours. Within 1 to 2 weeks, patients were evaluated in the clinic with the Dix-Hallpike maneuver or, if unable to travel to the clinic, interviewed by telephone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms recurred in 50 (43%) of the 116 subjects, 34 (47%) of 73 in the no-treatment group and 16 (37%) of 43 in the treatment group. There was no significant difference in the frequency of recurrence (Pearson chi(2), P = .33) or time to recurrence (survival analysis, log-rank test, P = .92). A history of recurrent BPPV-PC did not affect frequency of recurrence (Pearson chi(2), P = .33) or time to recurrence (survival analysis, log-rank test, P = .72).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that a daily routine of Brandt-Daroff exercises does not significantly affect the time to recurrence or the rate of recurrence of BPPV-PC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. jhelmi@midwestern.edu
authors.forename: Janet Odry
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Helminski
authors.forename: Imke
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotaspouikis
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sheldon
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McQueen
authors.forename: Timothy Carl
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hain
mesh_terms: D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012665:Semicircular Canals; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014717:Vertigo / Q000517:prevention & control*