04/11/2025
🌀 Which maneuver works best for BPPV?
A new randomized clinical trial compared two popular treatments for posterior canal BPPV:
🔹 Semont-Plus Maneuver (SM-plus)
🔹 Epley Maneuver (EM)
📊 Results:
SM-plus led to recovery in 2.0 days on average
EM took 3.3 days on average
Both were safe, but SM-plus worked faster 💨
💡 Why?
The SM-plus uses deeper head/body angles, helping the crystals move more effectively out of the canal.
✅ Conclusion:
SM-plus is superior in speed of recovery.
📖 Source:
Strupp M, Mandala M, Vinck AS, Van Breda L, Salerni L, Gerb J, Bayer O, Mavrodiev V, Goldschagg N. The Semont-Plus Maneuver or the Epley Maneuver in Posterior Canal Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Randomized Clinical Study. JAMA Neurol. 2023 Aug 1;80(8):798-804. doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2023.1408. PMID: 37358870; PMCID: PMC10425825.
🤷Personal reflection: While Semont-Plus is impressively effective, it’s not for everyone. The maneuver requires rapid, coordinated movements, a 60° head-overextension, and enough mobility and confidence to execute it without hesitation.