Three ways a physical therapist can treat your balance issues

Your ability to keep yourself upright and stable while sitting or moving is a cornerstone of your life. But you might not realize this fact until you have balance issues that take this ability away. 

If you’re having trouble balancing yourself, you aren’t the only one. It’s reported that more than 25% of all older Americans fall every year, and these falls are often the result of a balance problem. Physical therapy can be an effective way to address your difficulty with balance. Additionally, physical therapists can work with you to address your balance issues and improve your ability to move. 

These are three techniques physical therapists can use to treat balance issues

Balance disorders are often centered in the inner ear, but they can also be rooted in other parts of the body. For instance, problems with your brain or nerves can cause balance issues. In addition, joint problems or weak muscles can make you unsteady. 

Physical therapists have multiple techniques that can help address your balance disorder. Some of the most commonly used techniques include: 

1. Canalith repositioning — Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common cause of vertigo in adults. The balance problem occurs when crystals in the inner ear shift and cause false readings to be sent to your brain. Canalith repositioning can be used to move these crystals. One study reports that this technique has a more than 95% success rate for BPPV patients. 

2. Gaze stabilization — Balance disorders can also make it harder to focus on objects in your surroundings. This lack of clarity can make it harder to remain stable while walking, which can lead to a fall. 

Gaze stabilization is a therapy method that can help you deal with this balance disorder symptom. It involves doing exercises with your eyes that are intended to improve your ability to stabilize and focus your gaze. A gaze stabilization study reports that it decreased fall risk in 90% of the patients who used it. 

3. Balance training — Physical therapists can also help you improve your physical ability to balance using customized balance training. This training can include exercises that stretch tense muscles. It can also work to improve muscle strength and joint mobility. Such training can be very successful for adults with balance problems. A study reveals that balance training helped reduce falls that cause serious injuries by 43%. 

Find effective treatment for balance issues at Back in Motion PT

Prepared to try out physical therapy to treat your balance issues? Our specialists at Back in Motion Physical Therapy are ready and willing to help you address your balance problems. We offer free screenings that can pinpoint the underlying causes of your balance problems. Our team can then build you a personalized therapy plan designed to improve your balance. You can also sign up for one of our at-home care or virtual therapy sessions to get help right from your home. 

Contact us today for more information about how we can treat balance disorders or to schedule an initial appointment.