Do you frequently notice an imbalance, dizziness, or unsteadiness that makes you feel as if you may fall over at any given time? Have you suffered from a fall in the past? Are you worried that you may be at risk of sustaining a fall-related injury?
Loss of balance can happen at any age due to disease or injury. However, balance challenges become more common as we age.
If you have recently sustained a balance-related injury, it is important to seek the help of a physical therapist immediately, in order to avoid additional injuries in the future. It is important to note that you should also contact a physical therapist if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Dizziness or vertigo (“spinning” sensations, even when remaining still).
- Inability to focus or remain alert.
- Double vision or tunnel vision.
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Arm or leg weakness.
- Abnormal eye movements.
- Difficulty standing up from a seated position or standing for prolonged periods of time.
If you have any concerns about your balance, don’t hesitate to contact Moon Physical Therapy in Mililani, HI. We can help identify why your issue is occurring and create a customized treatment plan for you.
How high is my fall risk?
Some people have a higher risk of falling than others. Certain risk factors include:
- Previous stroke or heart attack
- Arthritis or alternative joint pain
- Problems with vision
- Problems with walking or staying balanced
- Fatigue
- Overall poor health
- Advanced age
- Being female
- Living a sedentary life
- Previous history of falls
- Vertigo or dizziness
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
Your physical therapist will review your medical history to determine how many risk factors you have for falling.
They will educate you on what these factors mean and how you can reduce your risk. Following that, they will conduct a thorough physical examination to determine the best treatment plan for you.
What’s the source of my balance issues?
Some balance issues emerge abruptly, while others develop more subtly and gradually. A few of the conditions that can cause balance issues include:
- Stroke
- Parkinson’s disease
- Cardiac conditions
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
- Meniere’s disease.
- Vestibular neuritis
- Migraines
- Brain injuries
Muscle weakness, particularly around the hips and core, is also frequently a primary contributor to poor balance and falls. Patients who receive strength and balance training are better prepared to recover from unexpected lapses in gait or a momentary loss of balance in order to avoid falls.
Your treatment plan will be determined by the cause of your balance problems. Your strength, range of motion, balance, coordination, and cognition will all be evaluated during a physical therapy evaluation.
Your balance therapy program will include exercises to help you gain strength, improve joint function, and address any balance issues you may have. A home exercise program that you follow to maximize the benefits of your balance therapy sessions will be critical to your recovery.
How vestibular rehabilitation can treat your balance problem
It is estimated that around 50% of all dizziness stems from a problem with your vestibular system. The vestibular system gives our brains vital information about how we move and how our heads are positioned. It also involves motor functions controlling our overall balance, stability, and posture.
At your initial evaluation, we will conduct a comprehensive assessment that includes your medical history and a physical examination of your joints, muscles, coordination, posture, inner ears, and eye tracking capabilities. Our evaluation will help identify the likely cause of your symptoms and guide our choice of treatments.
Our therapists at Moon Physical Therapy will prescribe a balance and vestibular treatment plan of specific exercises, targeted stretches, and movement techniques to restore the functioning of your vestibular system and get your balance back on track!
Ready to improve your balance?
At our Mililani, HI clinic, we are happy to say we can provide you with the right treatment plan for your balance therapy needs, so you can get back to living your life comfortably!
Are you ready to get back on your feet and decrease your risk of sustaining a balance-related injury? Contact Moon Physical Therapy to request an appointment and start on a plan of recovery today!
Sources:
- https://vestibular.org/article/diagnosis-treatment/treatments/vestibular-rehabilitation-therapy-vrt/
- https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-balance-problems
- https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-vertigo
- https://www.choosept.com/guide/physical-therapy-guide-benign-paroxysmal-positional-vertigo-bppv
Tags: physical therapy, physical therapist, balance disorder, balance therapy
