Chances are we all either know someone who has a balance dysfunction or we have it ourselves. There are a number of different things you can do for poor balance, but there are so many conflicting things you hear on the internet about what to do. Listed below are the top 5 frequently asked questions we, as physical therapists, get asked the most.
What’s causing my loss of balance?
There are a few different components to your balance and when one, or more than one, aren’t functioning up to par we can start to lose our balance. Your vision, vestibular system, and proprioception are the three components to keeping your balance. Your vision gives your brain feedback related to your spatial orientation. Many people tend to be vision dominant when it comes to balance and find it easier to keep their eyes focused on one point when trying to balance. Your vestibular system gives your brain feedback on how your head is moving (side to side, up and down, and diagonals). This helps to keep your balance especially in poorly lit areas and when navigating uneven surfaces. Lastly, proprioception is our ability to know how our body is oriented without looking at it via receptors in your muscles and tendons. If you had your eyes closed, you should be able to feel how your limbs are positioned without moving them. By ensuring all three components are working optimally we can improve our balance and decrease our risk for falls.
Why does it seem harder to balance as I get older?
Typically, as we age we move less and start to do less throughout the day. With less movement and activity we don’t challenge our vestibular system, the inner ear system, or our proprioception, the input we get from our muscles and tendons. If we don’t use it, we lose it. With less input from our inner ear, muscles, and tendons, we become more reliant on our vision for our balance. This leads us to feeling very unsteady because our brain isn’t getting all of the information it typically would have.
It’s hard to keep my balance as I’m moving around. Should I use a cane or walker?
Using a cane or a walker may be beneficial but many times an assistive device isn’t necessary. A healthcare professional, like a physical therapist, will be able to help you determine if you should be utilizing an assistive device, and if so, which device is most appropriate for you.
Can my balance improve even though I’ve been having balance problems for a while.
Yes! There are many ways that we can improve balance. First we would determine which areas of your balance aren’t working as much as they should and we are able to develop an exercise program to target the areas that are affecting your balance the most.
Why is it harder to balance when I close my eyes?
Many people tend to be very reliant on their vision to maintain their balance. When that is the case, having your eyes closed or being in a dimly lit area case pose some challenges. When we rely heavily on our vision we don’t utilize our inner ear system or our feedback from our muscles and tendons as much to help with your balance which increases our risk for falls.
