The efficacy of the canalith repositioning maneuver in the treatment of benign positional vertigo was assessed in this controlled, randomized trial of 38 subjects. Treated subjects underwent the maneuver and control subjects did not. All were reevaluated 1 month after treatment. The number of persons experiencing subjective improvement was not statistically significantly different between the treatment and control groups. All patients, in both experimental and control groups, in this study experienced substantial improvement. Although the maneuver is safe it does not have treatment benefit for benign positional vertigo.