Balance and Gait Disorders

Feeling Unsteady? Find Your Feet Again With Physical Therapy

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Physical therapy can put you back on track again

 

We’ve all been dizzy before. It’s a very unsettling feeling. However, for some people, feeling dizzy and unbalanced happens consistently.  Do you find yourself reaching out for walls, railings, or other objects to balance yourself? Is your balance simply not quite what it used to be? If so, you might have a balance or gait issue that needs attention. 

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Underlying musculoskeletal and neurological disorders can cause or aggravate a balance or gait problem. Fortunately, physical therapy in Zionsville can help you to regain and correct your balance. 

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There are many reasons why this kind of condition may occur, and it can cause both physical and emotional limitations in your daily life. At Zionsville Physical Therapy, we can manage your symptoms and in many cases, we can help relieve your condition altogether. 

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To find out more about how our balance and gait disorders services can help improve your quality of life, call us at (317) 873-2033 or click here to request an appointment at our Zionsville physical therapy office today.

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The differences between gait and balance disorders

 

Balance and gait disorders, while similar, do have many differences. A physical therapist at Zionsville Physical Therapy will be able to diagnose your specific condition after a thorough evaluation, however, here is some information on gait disorders versus balance disorders.

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Gait disorders

 

According to Move Forward Physical Therapy, gait disorders account for 17 percent of senior falls. Gait disorders can cause abnormal movements in the way you walk and run, and these can become exaggerated with age, injuries, or various conditions. Walking with a limp, or a compensatory movement may reveal a stiffness, weakness, numbness or a painful region. Limping can also be caused by stroke, Parkinson’s disease, age-related balance deterioration, or improper use of ambulatory devices. A past history of falling can make you fearful of falling again, and, in fact, you are more likely to fall again unless corrections are made in your balance and movement. 

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Balance disorders

 

With balance disorders, people report feeling as if they are about to fall, staggering when attempting to walk, as well as a sensation of floating. Blurred vision and feelings of disorientation may also occur.  

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Balance disorders are often complex, and neurological, as your brain may think you are moving, even when you are not. This can be due to inner ear problems, vestibular system disorders, BPPV, vertigo, visual disturbances, as well as neurological changes. Deterioration in your joint mobility, muscle strength, and ability to sense where your joints are in space (proprioception), all have significant consequences on your balance as well. 

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How physical therapy combats the effects of gait and balance disorders

 

Physical therapy is the best option for balance and gait disorders. Our Zionsville physical therapists can provide you with the best techniques for improving your balance and ability to walk. It’s important to get help if you are having trouble remaining steady, as you want to prevent falling and injuring yourself!

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Balance and gait disorders belong to a family of functional problems that interfere with your positional awareness, your normal means of walking or running, and your ability to keep yourself upright and active.  

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Having to attend therapy should not be a cause for worry. Rest assured that you’re in good hands in our office! When you arrive for your initial consultation, our physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive physical evaluation to examine your balance, gait, stance, medical history, and symptoms, before creating a personalized treatment plan made for your specific needs. 

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This treatment plan may include  the following exercises and treatment methods:

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Gait retraining exercises

 

Sometimes, abnormalities in gait can be corrected through “retraining” where you learn proper techniques. Injured walkers and runners can benefit from this kind of therapy technique especially, as it is quite difficult to see what you are doing incorrectly by yourself.  

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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 appropriate strengthening and balancing exercises that will build up your muscles, thus making it much easier for you to move around and reduce your risk of injury.

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Stretches

 

Stretching will help improve your flexibility and your range of motion. This will give you more control and quicker reactions with your movements, also reducing your risk of injury. It will also keep your muscles from becoming too tight and stiff.

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Vestibular rehabilitation

 

If you are suffering from a balance or gait disorder, our Zionsville physical therapists will provide you with specific exercises that will move the calcium debris to the correct parts of your ear. 

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This physical therapy treatment works to improve your vision, nerves, muscles, and the vestibular system as a whole, in order to maintain a steady balance.  

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Let us help you get back on your feet

 

Balance and gait issues don’t have to mark the end to life as you know it. We are concerned about your safety and your mobility, more than any other healthcare practitioner!  Physical therapy can help you get your footing back under you. 

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Call our clinic today and request an appointment at Zionsville Physical Therapy. We’ll help you find the balance you’re looking for, and teach you ways to manage your condition in the future!