{"title":"Vestibular Rehabilitation","content":"**Vestibular rehabilitation treats dizziness and instability caused by a disturbance of the inner ear. At the Pôle Equilibre & Santé practice in Dudelange, the physiotherapist carries out a functional assessment, then applies validated manoeuvres and exercises to relieve episodes and prevent their return, always in collabouration with the ENT specialist, in the south of Luxembourg.**\n\n## What do assessment and treatment involve?\n\nThe first step consists of identifying the origin of the problem: without this identification, it is impossible to choose the right technique, because each cause requires a specific response. Once the mechanism has been identified, there are two main approaches:\n\n- when it comes to positional vertigo, a repositioning manoeuvre repositions the tiny crystals that have migrated into a semicircular canal of the inner ear; relief is common from the very first sessions;\n- after vestibular nerve damage or an earlier acute episode, the work aims to retrain the brain: through gaze, posture and habituation exercises, it learns to rely more on the eyes and the sensations of the body to compensate for the affected ear.\n\nYou then leave with a short programme to carry out at home, which will consolidate the benefits of treatment.\n\n## How does the feeling of vertigo arise?\n\nMaintaining balance requires the brain to continuously combine three streams of information: signals from the inner ear, vision and receptors in the muscles and joints. As soon as the inner ear sends an erroneous signal, these signals conflict and vertigo can result — this deceptive feeling of spinning. It should not be confused with instability, a feeling of unsteadiness without a spinning sensation. Nausea and loss of balance often accompany these two symptoms.\n\n## Which disorders can be treated?\n\nSeveral situations respond well to this rehabilitation:\n\n- intense but very brief vertigo triggered by certain head movements: benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV);\n- vestibular neuritis, which triggers a sudden attack without affecting hearing and leaves persistent imbalance requiring rehabilitation;\n- Ménière's disease, where dizziness is combined with tinnitus and hearing loss;\n- unsteady walking and a lack of stability, especially in older people.\n\n## What does the research show?\n\nScientific work places this rehabilitation among the treatments of choice for dizziness linked to the inner ear. Its effectiveness relies on the brain's ability to remodel itself after peripheral injury. Among seniors, it significantly reduces the feeling of insecurity and lowers the risk of falling — a benefit that is clinically important. The medical diagnosis is made by an ENT specialist with whom the practice works hand in hand.\n\n## In Luxembourg: reimbursement and official framework\n\nAt the Pôle Equilibre & Santé practice, this care falls under physiotherapy on medical prescription. The [National Health Fund (CNS)](https://cns.public.lu/en/assure/remboursements/prestations-remboursees/prestations-paramedicales/kinesitherapeutes.html) sets the coverage rules (generally 70%, rising to 100% in some cases). Masseur-physiotherapist is a regulated health profession in the Grand Duchy ([Ministry of Health](https://sante.public.lu/en.html)). Practical steps are explained on [The Consultation](/dudelange/kinesitherapie/consultation-kine).\n\n## Personalised assessment and rehabilitation\n\nOur specialist website [kine-vertige.lu](https://kine-vertige.lu/) explains our approach to dizziness and balance disorders in more detail: vestibular assessment, repositioning manoeuvres for BPPV, habituation exercises, gaze stabilisation, balance training and fall prevention. Home exercises are tailored after the assessment.\n\n## When should I seek prompt medical advice?\n\nDizziness accompanied by a severe headache, double or lost vision, speech difficulties, sudden weakness on one side of the body, loss of consciousness, confusion, high fever or a head injury requires prompt medical advice or emergency care. Persistent nausea or vomiting should also be reported.\n\n## Frequently asked questions\n\n### How many sessions should you plan?\n\nIt all depends on the nature of the disorder: BPPV is sometimes resolved in one to three manoeuvres, while nerve damage or long-standing instability requires treatment over several weeks. The initial assessment gives a first estimate.\n\n### Is it unpleasant during manoeuvres?\n\nBrief dizziness may occur when repositioning the crystals: this is temporary and is a temporary effect of treating the affected canal. Each step is explained to you and follows your own pace.\n\n### Can I consult directly without going through a doctor?\n\nA prescription remains necessary for reimbursement by the [CNS](https://cns.public.lu/). The doctor, often the ENT, makes the diagnosis; the physiotherapist then conducts the functional assessment and treatment.\n\n### How do I make an appointment in Dudelange?\n\nBy telephone at [+352 26 65 15 33](tel:+35226651533). The practice is located at Bloc A, 48 Rue de la Libération, L-3511 Dudelange — see [Contact & access](/dudelange/contact).\n\n## Find out more\n\n- [Neurological rehabilitation](/dudelange/competence/reeducation-neurologique) — balance and walking\n- [Practice services](/dudelange/competences) — all our specialisms\n- [The Consultation](/dudelange/kinesitherapie/consultation-kine) — prescription, reimbursement, progress\n- [CNS — Physiotherapists](https://cns.public.lu/en/assure/remboursements/prestations-remboursees/prestations-paramedicales/kinesitherapeutes.html) — official reimbursement conditions\n- [Ministry of Health](https://sante.public.lu/en.html) — health professions in Luxembourg\n"}