Vestibular training for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. Its efficacy in comparison with antivertigo drugs.

A modified controlled study on treatment effects of vestibular training (VT) for benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was performed. The VT was compared with courses of patients in three different groups: patients treated by medication, by VT, and by VT with medication during 8 weeks. It was statistically confirmed by global judgments of symptoms and signs that improvement rates of positional nystagmus and vertigo were higher in the two groups treated by VT with and without medication than the improvement rate in the medication alone group. In the groups treated by VT, the effects were not influenced by time since onset of disease or by patient age. It is therefore assumed that VT can be used as a first-choice treatment in patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, even in long-term cases or older patients.