Canalith Repositioning: What It Is and How It Stops Dizziness

When you roll over in bed and the room spins, it’s often not just bad luck—it’s canalith repositioning, a non-invasive procedure to treat vertigo caused by displaced calcium crystals in the inner ear. Also known as the Epley maneuver, it’s one of the most effective ways to reset your balance system without drugs or surgery. These tiny crystals, called canaliths, small calcium carbonate particles normally stuck in the utricle of the inner ear, can break loose and drift into the semicircular canals. When they do, they send false signals to your brain about movement, making you feel like you’re spinning even when you’re still. That’s benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a common, harmless but terrifying condition triggered by head position changes—or BPPV.

Canalith repositioning works by guiding those loose crystals back to where they belong using a series of controlled head movements. It’s not magic—it’s physics. A physical therapist or doctor guides you through four positions, each held for about 30 seconds, letting gravity pull the crystals out of the wrong canal and back into the utricle. Most people feel better after one or two sessions. You don’t need a scan, a prescription, or a hospital stay. Just a quiet room and a trained person to show you the moves.

But canalith repositioning isn’t the only thing that helps with dizziness. Our collection includes posts on vestibular therapy, which builds long-term balance through exercises, and guides on how to tell if your dizziness is from BPPV or something else—like a medication side effect, inner ear infection, or even a heart issue. You’ll find real advice on what to do if the repositioning doesn’t work, how to prevent it from coming back, and why some people get dizzy after treatment. We also cover how other conditions, like Meniere’s disease or migraines, can mimic BPPV, so you don’t waste time on the wrong fix.

If you’ve ever felt like the floor is tilting, or you can’t turn your head without nausea, you’re not alone. Millions deal with this every year—and most don’t know there’s a quick fix. The posts below give you the facts, the steps, and the warnings you need to stop spinning and start feeling steady again—no guesswork, no fluff, just what works.