Benign Paroxsysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV): An algorithm for clinicians
Dalton Gilligan, PT, DPT
Image adopted from http://www.dizziness-and-balance.com/disorders/bppv/acbppv/kim-ac-bppv-treatment-small.gif
Straight Back Maneuver (Crevits)
(Casani, Cerchiai, Dallan, & Sellari-Franceschini, 2010); Yacovino, Hain, & Gualtieri, 2009)
Position 1: Patient begins sitting on table in an upright position.

Position 2: Patient is brought to a position so the head is extended 60 degrees off of the table (picture shows 30 degrees). This is maintained for 30 seconds once vertigo has subsided.

Position 3: Patient rapidly tucks their chin to their chest, (forming an angle of about 30 degrees above horizontal).

Position 4: Patient is brought to upright sitting

Evidence:

This procedure makes sense anatomically, as the chin tucked position should allow debris to fall out of the anterior canal. In the article by Yacovino, Hain, & Gualtieri 2009, 13 patient's were given this technique, and 84.6% became symptom free after a single maneuver (11/13). 2/13 patients became symptom free after an additional maneuver. Additionally, Casani, Cerchiai, Dallan, & Sellari-Franceschini, 2010 examined this technique on 17 patients. 8 patients were symptom free after 1 session of treatment, 7 needed 2 sessions of treatment, and 2 more required three treatments. 1 patient did not achieve resolution of symptoms.