Vertigo and Dizziness Treatment in Kathmandu: BPPV, Vestibular Physiotherapy and Manual Techniques
Vertigo and Dizziness Treatment in Kathmandu: BPPV, Vestibular Physiotherapy and Manual Techniques
Vertigo and dizziness are among the most distressing and disabling symptoms a person can experience. The sudden sensation that the room is spinning — or that you are spinning — can strike without warning, making it impossible to walk safely, work, or carry out daily activities. Despite how debilitating vertigo can be, many patients in Kathmandu do not know that it can often be resolved quickly and completely with the right physiotherapy treatment.
At Manual Therapy Hospital, Baneshwor, Kathmandu, our experienced therapists specialise in vestibular physiotherapy and the assessment and treatment of vertigo, BPPV, and dizziness disorders. In many cases, the most common cause of vertigo (BPPV) can be resolved in just 1-3 treatment sessions.
BPPV — the most common cause of vertigo worldwide — can often be completely resolved in a single physiotherapy session using the Epley manoeuvre. You do not need long-term medication or surgery.
Understanding Vertigo and Dizziness
It is important to distinguish between two types of dizziness:
| Type | Description |
| Vertigo | A false sensation of rotation — the room or person feels like it is spinning |
| Dizziness / Lightheadedness | A feeling of unsteadiness, floating, or nearly fainting — without a spinning sensation |
Manual Therapy Hospital specialises in the vestibular physiotherapy treatment of true vertigo — particularly BPPV and cervicogenic dizziness. Systemic causes of dizziness (cardiovascular, neurological) are assessed and referred to the appropriate medical specialist.
What Is BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo)?
BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo worldwide and in Kathmandu. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear become dislodged from their normal position and migrate into one of the semicircular canals — the fluid-filled tubes responsible for detecting head rotation.
When these crystals are present in the semicircular canal, certain head movements — rolling over in bed, looking up, bending forward — stimulate the canal inappropriately, sending false rotation signals to the brain and causing a sudden, brief episode of intense spinning vertigo.
BPPV is characterised by:
- Brief episodes of intense spinning vertigo lasting 10-60 seconds
- Triggered by specific head movements (rolling in bed, looking up, bending)
- A positive Dix-Hallpike test — the diagnostic test performed in clinic
- Nausea (and sometimes vomiting) during severe attacks
How Is BPPV Treated at Manual Therapy Hospital Kathmandu?
The Epley Manoeuvre
The Epley manoeuvre is the gold-standard treatment for the most common type of BPPV (posterior canal BPPV). It involves a series of precisely sequenced head and body position changes that guide the displaced crystals out of the semicircular canal and back to their correct position in the inner ear.
Most patients experience immediate or near-immediate resolution of vertigo after 1-3 repetitions of the Epley manoeuvre. The success rate is approximately 80-90% after a single treatment session and over 95% after 2-3 sessions.
Semont Manoeuvre and Barbecue Roll
Alternative manoeuvres used for different canal variants of BPPV (horizontal canal or anterior canal BPPV), diagnosed through specific clinical testing.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Exercises
For vestibular neuritis, labyrinthitis, or chronic vestibular dysfunction, a progressive programme of vestibular rehabilitation exercises — including gaze stabilisation, habituation, and balance training — helps the brain recalibrate to the damaged vestibular signal and restore normal balance function.
Cervicogenic Dizziness Treatment
Dizziness arising from the cervical spine — from cervical spondylosis, whiplash, or upper cervical joint dysfunction — responds to cervical manual therapy. Our therapists are trained to differentiate cervicogenic dizziness from inner ear causes through specific clinical testing.
When to Seek Urgent Medical Care for Dizziness
Please seek emergency medical care rather than physiotherapy if your dizziness is accompanied by:
- Sudden severe headache described as the worst of your life
- Double vision, difficulty speaking, or facial drooping
- Sudden weakness or numbness in an arm or leg
- Loss of consciousness
- Dizziness following a head injury
These symptoms may indicate a stroke or serious neurological condition requiring emergency care. If in doubt, seek medical attention first.
Frequently Asked Questions — Vertigo Treatment in Kathmandu
| Question | Answer |
| Can vertigo be cured with physiotherapy in Nepal? | BPPV — the most common type of vertigo — is resolved in 1-3 physiotherapy sessions in the vast majority of cases. Other vestibular conditions (vestibular neuritis, Meniere’s disease) are managed with vestibular rehabilitation exercises that significantly reduce symptoms and improve balance function. |
| How long does the Epley manoeuvre take? | The Epley manoeuvre itself takes only 10-15 minutes. Combined with the initial assessment and diagnosis, your first vertigo appointment at Manual Therapy Hospital will typically last 45-60 minutes. |
| Will BPPV come back after treatment? | BPPV can recur — approximately 15-30% of patients experience a recurrence within one year. Recurrences respond to the same manoeuvre treatment and resolve just as quickly. We will teach you a home Epley manoeuvre to manage any recurrence yourself. |
| I have had dizziness for years — is physiotherapy still useful? | Yes. Even long-standing vestibular dysfunction responds to vestibular rehabilitation exercises. The brain retains the capacity to compensate for vestibular deficits with appropriate physiotherapy, regardless of duration. |
| Do I need a doctor’s referral for vertigo physiotherapy at Manual Therapy Hospital? | No. You can self-refer directly. However, if your dizziness is severe, associated with neurological symptoms, or has not been assessed medically, we may recommend a medical evaluation before or alongside physiotherapy. |
Book Your Vertigo Treatment in Kathmandu
Baneshwor Clinic: 9863336363 | 01-4622033 (Min Bhawan, New Baneshwor, Kathmandu)
Dhobighat, Lalitpur: 9841200805 | 01-5188067
Open: Sunday-Friday: 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM |Saturday: 7:00 AM-3:00 PM
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