If you've been falling a lot or feel like you're having trouble with your balance, talk to your doctor to find out the cause. If it's suitable, balance therapy with a physical therapist might help your situation. Here's a look at what causes a balance problem, some symptoms you might have, and how balance therapy might help.
Things That Cause Balance Problems
Your inner ear helps maintain your balance. So, an injury to your ear or medical problem with your ear could lead to balance problems. Neurological conditions, a head injury, or even medications could also cause balance problems. You can temporarily have balance problems due to motion sickness or drinking alcohol, but if your balance problems are chronic, you should seek medical advice.
Symptoms Of A Balance Problem
When your inner ear is affected, you might feel dizzy and lightheaded. You may experience the sensations when you rise from a seated position or when you move your head. You may have trouble focusing your eyes, and you might feel like you or the room is spinning. The sensations might be mild and controllable or they could lead you to fall down. Falling is a serious side effect of a balance problem that could lead to a head or hip injury, so don't take falling down lightly.
Balance Therapy Helps In Different Ways
Your physical therapist has to decide on the right treatments to provide based on the reason for your balance issue and the type of symptoms you have. Therapy may not be able to correct the problem, and if not, the goal is to help you adapt so you can manage your symptoms and live without fear of falling.
You may be taught general strengthening and stretching exercises to do with the therapist and at home so your body is more fit and able to react quickly when you lose your balance. The physical therapist may also fit you for a cane or other mobility aid that can help you maintain your balance.
Head positioning exercises are often done as a form of balance therapy. These can help with vertigo by moving crystals from your ear that affect balance. They might also be done if you have trouble maintaining focus with your eyes when you walk.
Balance retraining is another important part of balance therapy. With this therapy, you do exercises that require you to balance your body. You might do yoga poses, balance on a stability ball, or practice standing on one foot with your eyes closed. You may need to work slowly and steadily to stay safe and make progress toward better balance.
