Ménière's disease: understanding and relieving with vestibular physiotherapy

Ménière's diseaseis a disorder of the inner ear that affects balance and hearing. It is characterized by attacks of severe dizziness, fluctuating hearing loss (especially of low-pitched sounds), tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and a feeling of fullness in the ear.

This disease can considerably disrupt daily life.

Pathophysiology of Meniere's disease

The exact cause of Ménière's disease is still partially unknown, but is linked to a dysfunction in the pressure balance of the fluid that bathes the inner ear: the endolymph.

Its causes are probably multifactorial, linked to infectious, genetic and/or autoimmune factors.

Who is affected by meniere's disease?

This pathology mainly affects people between the ages of 20 and 50, with a female predisposition, and evolves in more or less frequent attacks. It is usually unilateral, but can be bilateral in certain situations.

Over time, the disease stabilizes in most sufferers, with a gradual reduction in the number of attacks. Some people, however, experience permanent hearing loss and balance problems.

Available treatments and advice

Treatments for Ménière's disease aim to reduce the frequency and intensity of attacks, and improve quality of life. These include:

medical treatment: diuretics, antivertigo drugs, anti-inflammatories

Lifestyle modifications: Reduce salt intake, avoid triggers such as stress and fatigue.

• psychological care
• surgical management, in the most severe cases.
• vestibular physiotherapy.

Why use a vestibular physiotherapist?

The vestibular physiotherapist plays a crucial role in the management of Meniere's disease.

The benefits of vestibular rehabilitation lie mainly between attacks, to stimulate vestibular function and improve compensation phenomena.

Thanks to his expertise, the physiotherapist proposes a program of specific exercises to improve balance and reduce vertigo, using specially adapted equipment.

The various techniques employed are designed to stimulate adaptation (i.e. recovery of vestibular function), habitation (aimed at reducing the vertiginous response by repeated exposure to stimuli) and substitution (helping the brain to use other sensory sources).

The physiotherapist also guides the patient in accepting the disease, teaching strategies for managing symptoms on a daily basis, and addressing triggers such as stress.