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Patient Questions  /  The Epley maneuver

Dizziness & Balance

What Is the Epley Maneuver, and Can I Do It at Home?

The Epley maneuver is a series of head and body positions that moves loose inner-ear crystals back where they belong. It treats the most common type of BPPV, which causes brief spinning when you move your head. Some people can do it at home, but it's best to have BPPV confirmed first and learn it from a trained clinician.

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How it works

In BPPV, tiny calcium crystals drift into one of the inner ear’s balance canals. The Epley maneuver moves your head through a set sequence, holding each position for a short time, so gravity rolls the crystals out of the canal. It may bring on a brief burst of spinning while it works.

Clinical guidelines recommend repositioning maneuvers like the Epley for BPPV, and many people feel better after one to a few treatments.

Doing it at home

Home versions can help, especially if BPPV comes back after it’s been confirmed. But there are good reasons to get checked first:

  • Right side, right canal. The Epley is done differently for the left and right ear, and it doesn’t work for every type of BPPV. Other types need other maneuvers.
  • Not all dizziness is BPPV. Spinning can have other causes that need different care.
  • Safety. The positions can cause strong spinning and nausea. Have someone with you. Check with your doctor first if you have neck or back problems or heart or blood vessel conditions.

If spinning keeps coming back, or the maneuver doesn’t help after a few tries, stop and get checked.

When to see a doctor

Call 911 or get emergency care if dizziness comes with:

  • Slurred speech, face drooping, weakness or numbness on one side, or double vision
  • A sudden, severe headache
  • Constant spinning that doesn't stop, with vomiting and trouble walking
  • Fainting, chest pain or a racing heartbeat
  • Sudden hearing loss in one ear

How physical therapy at ARI can help

A physical therapist trained in vestibular care tests which ear and canal is involved, does the right repositioning maneuver, and can teach you a safe home routine if your BPPV tends to come back.

At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist, and our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Read our full guide: Vertigo and dizziness (BPPV) →

No referral needed to start. In California, you can see a physical therapist directly for up to 12 visits or 45 days, whichever comes first. Some insurance plans still require a referral for coverage; call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll help you check.

Related questions

Ready to feel better?

Talk to a licensed physical therapist at ARI, one-on-one. Request an evaluation and we'll get back to you, usually within one business day.

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This page is general information, not a diagnosis. If you have symptoms, a licensed clinician should evaluate you.

Clinically reviewed by Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist · Reviewed October 2026