Did you know, a flamingo is used in Balance Awareness. Why, you may ask?
Have you ever felt the unsteadiness of standing on one leg with your eyes closed, but you are actually standing on both legs and your eyes are wide open? Thus, a flamingo. There are many different terms that are used when it comes to balance. Some terms that are used to explain a patients’ symptoms are: unsteady, dizzy, vertigo, woozy, blurry, spinning, etc.
- 35% of adults aged 40 years or older have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction.
- Dizziness is a common symptom affecting about 30% of people over the age of 65.
So, where does balance issues originate from?
There are several reasons why you may be having issues with your balance. We will be covering a few of them as well as discussing how to fix the problem, and how to know which issue is causing your balance impairment. Below is a list of some reasons for balance issues. The list is not extensive, and it is always best to check with your physician, and/ or your physical therapist to find the primary reason for your falls/ balance impairment.
- Head injury
- Inner ear problems
- Poor blood circulation
- Medications
- Low/High Blood pressure
- Weak Core Musculature
- Weak LE
- Musculoskeletal Issues of Pain/Joint
- Parkinsons
- MS
- Stroke
- Neuropathy
- Paresthesia
We will dive into a few of these problems and break them down.
Inner Ear Problems
Vertigo from a vestibular problem, accounts for 1/3 of all dizziness and vertigo symptoms reported to healthcare professionals. 80% of people with vertigo have an inner ear disorder. These disorders affect more Americans than type II diabetes, asthma, fibromyalgia and celiac disease combined. Your body uses your vision, sense of touch and inner ear to help you maintain balance. Just getting out of bed can be difficult when you have an inner ear disorder. Inner ear problems can lead to social isolation, anxiety and depression. These problems can trigger the “fight or flight” response, causing a heightened state of anxiety. Within the inner ear, there are three canals that hold crystals on a gelatin area of these canals. When they become loose, it will cause a dizzy or falling feeling. This is primarily associated with Vertigo or BPPV. Typically, this is diagnosed by a physician or physical therapist. If you relate to these symptoms, give us a call at 806-785-7900 so we can confirm and treat these issues. We, at Fyzical Lubbock, can get you back to Loving Your Life.
Weak Core Musculature
Our core plays a vital role in our balance. We already discussed our vestibular system through our inner ear. Now we will discuss our proprioceptive system. This system tells our body where we are in space and where we are in relation to our own body. Some of the muscles that play part in this are our core muscles. There are the inner and outer core muscles. The inner core muscles work to stabilize us and keep us from falling. Our outer core muscles work in conjunction with our inner core muscles, but they are used more for moving our body and reaching for objects. The outer core muscles are the muscles we first think of when we hear “abs”. Our inner core muscles not only stabilize our bodies, but they also are vital in our pelvic health. Side note: our pelvic health can also play a role in our balance. If our inner or outer core muscles are weak, we are more prone to falling as those muscles are not holding us properly. Something as “small” as posture can affect our balance due to poor core musculature.
Head Injury
Balance issues are very common among individuals that have suffered a traumatic brain injury. This can range from a concussion to worse injuries that require surgery. The severity of balance issues is assessed using the Sensory Organization Test and in some cases the Limits of Stability test. Unlike a weak core, balance problems that stem from a head injury can be corrected quickly or could become a chronic issue that one will have to live with. In some cases, head injuries can cause long term issues in the vestibular system due to injury within the ear, or damage to related brain pathways. At Fyzical Lubbock, our Physical Therapist, Robert Roten PT, COMT is trained in Concussion Management through Complete Concussion Management Inc. If you had a head injury, or know someone that has, please give us a call at 806-785-7900 to set up an initial evaluation. It is always best to start therapy early after a head injury, but help can be implemented at any time. If you are unsure of how serious your head injury is, please always ask your doctor or physical therapist for an assessment. It’s always better to be safe!
Fixing Balance Impairment
The first step in fixing your balance issues is identifying what is causing the problem. Earlier in this blog, we listed several different issues, and we dove into how some of those issues cause balance impairment. The safest and most reliable way to solve your problem is asking your physician or physical therapist. They will be able to identify where and how your balance is being affected. There are several different tests that are used at an initial evaluation, and after that, they are able to implement workouts, movements, and tips on getting you to Love Your Life again! If you are suffering from any of the impairments listed in the beginning of this blog, please reach out to us through our website, email or phone.
Fyzical Lubbock is always ready to help!