Barbecue roll maneuver for horizontal canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

Purpose: This review aims to investigate the effects of the Barbecue roll maneuver on horizontal semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (HC-BPPV) recovery.

Methods: Multiple databases, including "PubMed, PEDro, REHABDATA, MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and Web of Science" were searched from inception to October 2024". Experimental studies that included patients with HC-BPPV that performed the Barbecue roll maneuver independently or in combination with other treatments, compared with active, passive, or no controls, assessed HC-BPPV symptoms, were included in this analysis. The "Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro)" scale was used to investigate the methodological quality of the included studies.

Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria with 768 HC-BPPV patients (mean age = 56.16 years; 64% female; 52% right-side HC-BPPV; 90% geotropic HC-BPPV). The PEDro scores ranged from 3 to 8, with a median of 6. The findings showed that the Barbecue roll maneuver is not superior in reducing HC-BPPV symptoms compared to other maneuvers, such as the Gufoni, the Gufoni-Appiani and the Li repositioning.

Conclusions: The initial findings indicated that the Barbecue roll maneuver is considered a treatment option for treating geotropic HC-BPPV. Performing Barbecue roll maneuver for 1 to 3 times can yield meaningful effects. Accurate diagnosis of HC-BPPV is essential for optimal treatment outcomes. The success rate of recovery depends on patient characteristics and therapist proficiency. Additional studies are recommended.