Does osteoporosis make maneuvers less safe for BPPV?

I have osteoporosis (which I understand can make one more prone to vertigo) and at times have had neck issues.  I’m not sure if putting my head back and looking up to the ceiling would be okay for me to do. When one has osteoporosis, you have to careful with certain exercises.  Coming up from the position on one’s knees may not be so great for the spine. I’m not sure if being in that position would be great for one’s hips either.  Getting down on the floor is not so easy for me, but I would be willing to try.

This is great question.  Let’s answer the easy parts first.  You don’t need to get down on the floor, or arise from the floor after a maneuver.  The half somersault can be done on your bed, so it’s simple to get down once you’re done.

Regarding knee problems, the fix is simple.  The half somersault is usually done kneeling, but can also be done sitting, standing, or while lying on your stomach.  All these variations are covered in the companion book to my videos, Overcoming Positional Vertigo.  This means you don’t necessarily need to kneel at all, or even bend the knees more than 90 degrees.  All positions do require some leg or hip movement to arise, and some head movement. 

If you can’t tolerate any movement of the back, neck or knees you can seek out treatment in a special chair (Omniax chair) that straps you in and will rotate your whole body. Because of the special equipment needed, this costs much more than other maneuvers.

All other home or office maneuvers for BPPV require tilting the head and moving your legs.   If you are worried about tipping your head back at home, this can be avoided to a certain extent.  It’s only the position of the head in space that matters, not how far you tip your head up on your neck.  You can choose to lean back with your whole body until you’re looking straight up, for example, rather than tilting your head.  You can tilt your head as much as feels comfortable, and then lean back with your body to complete the position. 

How dangerous is it to do maneuvers when you have osteoporosis?  That depends on how much bone loss you have.  Osteoporosis can cause the vertebra to collapse with minor trauma, but this is very unlikely while doing maneuvers.  It’s best to avoid any movements you find painful, and to avoid very abrupt movements.  If you are concerned, it’s best to have manuevers done by a professional.