Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation

Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation

The Effect of Vestibular Rehabilitation on Improving Dizziness and Imbalance in Chronic Meniere’s Disease; A Narrative Review

Document Type : Review Article

Authors
Golnaz Moradipour
Yones Lotfi
Mohanna Javanbakht
Department of Audiology, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Rehabilitation Sciences and Social Health, Tehran, Iran
10.22038/jpsr.2026.88801.2713
Abstract
Purpose:
Meniere's disease is a chronic and disabling disorder of the inner ear, characterized by symptoms such as vertigo, imbalance, tinnitus, and hearing loss. Given the chronic nature of this disease and its impact on patients' quality of life, the use of rehabilitation interventions, particularly vestibular rehabilitation, has gained increasing attention. The aim of this review study is to investigate the effects of vestibular rehabilitation on improving dizziness and imbalance in patients with chronic Meniere's disease.
Methods:
In this review study, articles published between 2000 and 2024 were retrieved from the PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases. The keywords used included "vestibular rehabilitation," "Meniere's disease," "vertigo," and "dizziness." Of the 1,135 articles screened, and in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines and the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the initial title and abstract screening excluded 265 duplicates, 720 irrelevant articles with no direct relevance to the topic, and 107 articles without full text in English; a further 32 articles lacked reports of quantitative and qualitative data. Ultimately, 11 articles were selected for final analysis.
Results:
The results showed that vestibular rehabilitation reduces the severity and frequency of vertigo, improves balance, and enhances the quality of life in patients with Meniere's disease. Furthermore, combining these interventions with technologies such as virtual reality and psychological interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy has been found to enhance the effectiveness of the treatments. The benefits of these interventions are also generally reported to persist in long-term follow-ups.
Conclusion:
Vestibular rehabilitation can be considered a non-pharmacological and effective intervention for managing the symptoms of chronic Meniere's disease. Given the positive outcomes of these interventions, it is recommended that vestibular rehabilitation be incorporated regularly and in a targeted manner into the treatment programs of patients with chronic Meniere's disease. Future prospective studies with stronger designs and longer follow-up periods can further strengthen the existing evidence.
Keywords
Meniere&‌‌rsquo
s disease, vestibular rehabilitation, vertigo, imbalance
Subjects
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Journal of Paramedical Sciences & Rehabilitation
Volume 15, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 209-199