Tag Archives: balance

Becoming Balanced

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We are all seeking balance in our lives, between work and home and everything in between. But what about physical balance? Balance problems can be caused by a number of conditions including: 

  • Stroke 
  • Arthritis 
  • Diabetes 
  • Multiple Sclerosis 
  • And so much more! 

 

And these balance disruptions can be disrupted within the body from vision to the muscular system, all the way to the inner ear. There are multiple ways to treat these systems with physical therapy. With muscle strengthening and stretching, position training, and inner ear retraining, you could feel good as new!  

 

After balance is treated, the benefits are endless. Patients will experience less falling, and with that, comes confidence in their abilities to do more activities. Overall balance, mobility, and strength is increased which leads to more movement, better posture, and increased flexibility. If you would like to see these results, schedule your appointment today!  

Fall Prevention

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Did you know…

Adults age 65 or older:

  • 1 out of 3 adults fall each year
  • Falls are the leading cause of injury death, and the most common cause of nonfatal injury & hospital admission for trauma

Many people who fall, even if they are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, which leads to reduced mobility and loss of physical fitness, and in turn increases their actual risk of falling.

Balance: A person can become disoriented if the sensory input received from his or her eyes, muscles, joints, or vestibular organs sources conflict with one another.

  • Joints and Mechanoreceptors– As joints age, mechanoreceptors become less sensitive.
  • Cerebellum and Brain– Movements and neurological function decreases as we age.
  • Inner Ear- Vertigo is a common cause of falls.
  • Sense of Sight– Vision decreases as we age and diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in
  • Sense of Touch– Diabetic neuropathy can mean loss of feeling, which can lead to poor balance.

How can Physical or Occupational Therapy help?

  • Evaluate each patient to find which of these symptoms are affecting the ability to balance.
  • Review the patient’s medical history
  • Review the patient’s medication list
  • Perform a clinical observation
  • Berg balance scale test
  • Specific tests for vertigo