Meniere’s Disease and How Physiotherapy Can Help

If you live with Meniere’s disease, you’ll know how unsettling it can be. Sudden dizzy spells, a feeling of pressure in your ear, ringing (tinnitus), and fluctuating hearing loss can make everyday life unpredictable. Episodes can last minutes to hours, and the “spinning” sensation (vertigo) often leaves people feeling exhausted and anxious about when the next attack might hit.

While there’s no single cure for Meniere’s, there are treatments that can help manage the symptoms and improve quality of life. One approach that’s often overlooked is vestibular physiotherapy.

What is Meniere’s Disease?

Meniere’s is a disorder of the inner ear, thought to be linked to abnormal fluid regulation. It usually affects one ear and tends to come on between the ages of 20–60, although it can happen outside of that range too.

Typical symptoms include:

• Sudden vertigo attacks (a spinning sensation)

• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear)

• Fullness or pressure in the affected ear

• Hearing changes, which may fluctuate but can become more permanent over time

The unpredictability of these episodes is often what makes Meniere’s so challenging to live with.

Where Physiotherapy Fits In

While medications and specialist ENT care play an important role, physiotherapy can also be an effective part of managing Meniere’s disease — especially in reducing the long-term impact on balance, movement, and confidence.

Here’s how physiotherapy can help:

1. Vestibular Rehabilitation

During or after repeated episodes, your brain may struggle to adapt to the altered inner ear signals. Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a tailored exercise program that helps your brain “retrain” to make better use of visual and body cues for balance.

• Balance and coordination training

• Gaze stability exercises (helping your eyes and inner ear work together)

• Habituation exercises to reduce dizziness sensitivity

2. Managing Secondary Issues

Living with vertigo often leads to other problems:

• Neck stiffness or headaches from guarding and reduced movement

• Deconditioning from avoiding physical activity out of fear of triggering dizziness

• Anxiety around leaving the house or being in busy environments

A physio can address these secondary issues with movement strategies, strengthening, relaxation techniques, and education.

3. Confidence and Independence

One of the hardest parts of Meniere’s is the fear of “what if I get dizzy?” A physiotherapist can provide graded exposure to activities, so you feel more confident walking in the community, exercising, or returning to the things you enjoy.

What to Expect at a Physio Appointment

At your first session, your physiotherapist will take a detailed history of your dizziness episodes and how they’re affecting your life. They’ll assess:

• Your balance and walking

• Eye and head movement control

• Neck and posture

• How symptoms change in different environments

From there, you’ll receive an individualised program of exercises and strategies, often practiced both in the clinic and at home.

Key Takeaway

Meniere’s disease can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. Physiotherapy offers tools to improve balance, reduce dizziness sensitivity, manage the knock-on effects, and build back confidence. Combined with medical care, it can make a real difference to daily life.

If you or someone you know is living with Meniere’s, our team is here to help with vestibular physiotherapy. Book an appointment today and start taking back control.