It is enough to get from bed to seat that suddenly everything revolves around you. This is the positional vertigo that makes everyday life difficult for many people. The reason for this lies in the inner ear, where the organ of balance is located.
When we bring our body into different positions and move quickly, the fluid in the vestibular ducts of the organ of equilibrium goes along with it and signals this to our brain through sensors located there. In this way the balance is balanced and we retain control of our body and do not fall over. If dizziness does occur, especially positional vertigo, small crystals (otoliths) are often responsible.
So it is especially important to get them under control again. There are exercises for this that those affected can do themselves. However, you should have a doctor or physiotherapist show you the exercises at the beginning in order to learn them properly.
Because the correct execution is particularly important. Through these exercises, the dissolved crystals should be moved back into their correct position. These exercises are positioning and release maneuvers and are considered to be very effective.
Often affected persons are permanently liberated after the first units. To avoid recurrence, you should lie with a raised upper body for the next few days. If the dizziness does not improve after a few weeks despite exercise, other methods should be used.
Medications such as antivertiginosa can relieve the symptoms for a short time, but they do not fight the cause. There is also obliteration as a surgical method. However, this is only advisable if the maneuvers do not bring the treatment success.
Brandt Daroff
This positioning maneuver is used for horizontal arches: Because this form of positional vertigo goes back to the cupulolithiasis model. Here, the crystals settle on the cupula in the organ of equilibrium and lead to the symptoms. This method is also suitable for patients who also have shoulder and neck complaints and for older people.
Although this maneuver is less stressful, it can take longer to achieve a successful treatment than the methods according to Epley or Semond. You perform this maneuver on both sides. The starting position is sitting on a bed or examination couch.
When lying down, it is important that you cannot bump your head anywhere. First you sit on the edge of the bed and your legs hang out of the bed (90° in the knee and hip joint). Rotate your head 45 degrees to your left shoulder.
Now lie on your right side. The head and the legs/hip remain in their position (but now no longer hanging but lying on the bed). Stay on your side with your upper body for about 30 seconds.
Depending on how long the positioning dizziness takes to go away. Now go from the side position into the seat and wait there again for about 30 seconds. Depending on how long it takes the positioning vertigo to disappear.
To work the other side, move your head to your right shoulder. This time lie with your upper body on the left side. The procedure is again the same, with the same time intervals. Duration: The maneuver is performed until the vertigo disappears. You can perform the Brandt-Daroff exercise several times a day, for 5-10 series each.
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