By: Dr. Zach Daniels PT, DPT, Cert. DN

Each year millions of Americans experience a fall, those over the age of 65 being at the greatest risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, greater than one out of four older adults have a fall each year and one out of five experience a fall that results in a serious injury. Once one has experienced a fall, the chances of experiencing a subsequent fall more than doubles.

So, what causes falls? Unfortunately, there is not a simple answer to this. Many factors go into the balance system and a dysfunction of one factor within the system can make a person unstable and susceptible to falling. Dysfunctions in the balance system can present in many ways such as dizziness, vertigo, lightheadedness, blurred vision, unsteadiness, stumbling, tripping, or swaying. These feelings can occur when one is sitting, standing still (static balance) or bending, walking, and reaching (dynamic balance). When experiencing balance difficulties, it is important to distinguish whether the dysfunction occurs statically, dynamically, or both.

Factors that are responsible for making our balance system function properly include vision, proprioception, muscle strength and flexibility, circulation, and one’s vestibular organs that lie within our inner ear. Balance dysfunction because of vision can be due to vision deficits resulting from aging, low lighting, eye tracking difficulty, or eye disease. Dysfunction with proprioception is an inability to be aware of one’s own body position in space. This can become altered with trauma or medical conditions such as diabetes or cerebral vascular accident (stroke). Muscle weakness and flexibility problems affecting balance can occur after an injury, a period of immobility, or even as a part of normal aging. Blood circulation of one’s cardiovascular system can play a large role in balance as it is responsible for supplying one’s entire body with oxygen. If dysfunction occurs resulting in low oxygen, this can make one feel faint or dizzy. Circulation problems can occur if someone is dehydrated, has a heart or lung disease, or has orthostatic hypotension. Orthostatic hypotension is a drop in blood pressure that is caused by position changes. Lastly, impairments within the vestibular organs that reside within the inner ear can lead to vertigo and dizziness. Inner ear problems can be caused by trauma, aging, poor nutrition, or disease.

So, with all the factors that are necessary for proper balance how can one get to the root of the problem with balance issues? Physical therapy can help by having a physical therapist perform a thorough balance assessment; by looking at functioning of the muscles and joints, inner ear, vision and eye tracking ability, skin sensation, proprioception, and circulation to identify and diagnose what factors within the balance system are not functioning properly. A physical therapist can then prescribe an individualized treatment program to meet a patient’s specific needs when it comes to their balance. Physical therapy treatments to address balance can help to reduce the fear and risk of falls while also improving mobility, strength, flexibility, posture and ultimately get patients back to doing all the things that they want to!

Professional Rehabilitation Services is experienced in screening for and treating balance deficits and has witnessed positive results. By using evidence-based practice, we will ensure that one receives optimal treatment based on their unique presentation. Feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We will be happy to advise you on your process of maximizing a fully functional lifestyle.

For further information on this or other related topics you can contact Zach Daniels PT, DPT, Cert DN. (Market Common) (843) 213-6338.