Balance and Fall Prevention

Balance disorders occur when the bodily systems that provide our sense of balance do not function properly. The systems that contribute to balance include visual system, vestibular system, sense of proprioception and brain. Balance disorders cause a patient to feel unsteady, spinning, floating, or a sensation of movement when the body is still. In older individuals, balance disorders can often result in falls. One out of three adults over the age of 65 experience a fall in the United States each year. Physical Therapy can help restore a sense of balance and improve muscle strength and function.

Balance Disorders can be caused by several different factors, and in many cases there is no obvious cause of the problems.

Some commonly known causes of balance disorders include:

• Viral or bacterial infections in the ear
• A head injury
  
• Blood circulation disorders that effect the inner ear or brain
• Aging and certain medications
• Low blood pressure
• Arthritis
• Eye muscle imbalances

Some Common Symptoms of Balance Disorders include:

• Feeling dizzy or experiencing vertigo
• A sensation of falling or fear of falling
• Lightheadedness
• Difficulty seeing or reading
• Disorientation
• Feeling the sensation of spinning
• Frequent falls

Physical therapy for balance disorders often includes:

• Repositioning maneuvers
• Balance and proprioceptive training on even or uneven surfaces
• Gait Training
• Joint stretching and flexibility exercises
  
• Strengthening of lower extremities to improve the ability to move through transitional movements such as transfers from floor to standing, sitting to standing and stair climbing.