Get Your Feet Back Under You With Physical Therapy
Many people experience dizziness at some point in our lives. To say the least, it is not a pleasant sensation. You feel like the whole world is about to slip out from under your feet or spin out of control! This sensation is fairly common with vestibular, balance and gait disorders.
Feeling dizzy and unstable, on the other hand, can be a common occurrence for certain people. Do you feel dizzy when you move or spinning when lying down? Dizziness may include a variety of sensations such as vertigo, imbalance, the perception of swimming or floating and light-headedness.
Do you find yourself walking into walls, reaching for support from furniture or other items to help you keep your balance? Is your equilibrium no longer what it used to be? If this describes you, you may have a balance or gait condition that requires treatment.
Call Excel Physical Therapy at (920) 233-8739 or click here to request an appointment at our Oshkosh or Appleton, WI physical therapy clinic today. Our balance and gait services can help improve your quality of life!
The Difference Between Balance And Gait Disorders
While there are many similarities between balance and gait impairments, there are also numerous differences. Below is some information about gait abnormalities vs. balance disorders:
Balance disorder
Balance problems result in a perceived or actual loss of stability. You may get a sense of falling, stagger when walking, or feel as if you are swaying or stepping to keep your balance.. Changes in joint strength, mobility, and proprioception (the capacity to perceive where your joints are in space) all have an impact on your balance.
Vestibular disorders that produce dizziness, vertigo (false perception of motion), blurred or unstable vision often affect balance.
Gait disorders
Gait abnormalities create irregular motions in the way you walk and run. These abnormalities may become more pronounced as you become older. Strokes, inner ear difficulties, foot condition, and even something as basic as ill-fitting shoes might trigger them.
Reasons For Gait And Balance Disorders
Balance and gait problems can arise for a variety of causes. Your vestibular system controls your sensation of position, often known as “proprioception. Many balance problems are caused by issues within the vestibular system.
A problem with your balance or gait might be caused or exacerbated by underlying musculoskeletal and neurological issues. Our Oshkosh and Appleton, WI physical therapy clinics can, fortunately, assist you in regaining your balance and correcting your gait. Our therapists have specialized training in treatment of vestibular and balance disorders and can work with your medical team to diagnose the cause of your gait and balance disorder.
Some common vestibular conditions resulting in balance disorders include:
Neurological issues
There are hundreds of different neurological issues that can result in balance and gait problems. They may include Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, or stroke.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
BPPV occurs when calcium debris breaks off in the inner ear, causing issues with balance.
Injuries
Even if your brain and neurological system are in perfect sync, a sudden injury, disease, accident, or other illness that causes muscle weakness can throw your balance off and make it difficult to stay upright.
Excel Physical Therapy Can Help You Find Relief
The most effective treatment for balance and gait issues is physical therapy. When you come in for your first appointment at Excel Physical Therapy, our physical therapist will perform a thorough physical examination of your balance, gait, stance, medical history, and symptoms. Afterward, a unique treatment plan will be tailored to your specific needs.
Your treatment plan for your balance or gait disorder may include the following exercises and treatment methods:
Gait retraining exercises
Sometimes, abnormalities in gait can be corrected through “retraining” where you learn proper techniques. Runners can benefit from this kind of therapy technique as well.
Vestibular rehabilitation
If you are living with a balance or gait disorder, our physical therapist will provide you with specific exercises that will move the calcium debris to the correct parts of your ear. Physical therapy treatment works to improve your vision stability, nerves, muscles, and the vestibular system as a whole, to maintain a steady balance.
Stretches
Stretching will help improve your flexibility and your range of motion. It will also give you more control and quicker reactions to your movements. They will keep your muscles from becoming too tight and stiff, and reduce your risk of injury.
Strengthening exercises
Your physical therapy evaluation will help determine what problem areas in your body may need strengthening. Our physical therapist will provide you with strengthening exercises that will build up your muscles, thus making it much easier for you to move around and reduce your risk of injury.
Ready To Find Relief For Your Balance Or Gait Disorder?
Balance and gait problems do not have to rule your life. Our physical therapists in Oshkosh and Appleton, WI can teach you the best techniques for improving your balance and walking ability. It is critical to seek assistance if you are having trouble staying steady, as you do not want to fall and injure yourself! Request an appointment at Excel Physical Therapy by clicking HERE today.