Does tapping really help Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)?

Reviewed by Yoshinori Abe, MD

Internal Medicine

Tapping, or using mastoid vibration, may help with BPPV when used with certain head movements, but more research is needed to fully understand its effectiveness.

Explanation

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is a condition that causes dizziness. The provided reference looks at using mastoid vibration in combination with canalith repositioning maneuvers.

Key Points:

Mastoid Vibration: This involves gentle tapping or vibration near the ear.
Canalith Repositioning: Special head movements are used to move tiny particles in the inner ear that cause dizziness.

The study suggests that using mastoid vibration with these maneuvers might help some people with BPPV feel better. However, the research is not conclusive, and more studies are needed to be sure how effective this approach is. If you're dealing with dizziness, it's important to talk to a healthcare provider for advice and treatment.

(References)

Griech SF, & Carroll MA. (2018). The use of mastoid vibration with canalith repositioning .... Physiotherapy theory and practice, 29336656.

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Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)

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