Balance disorders can develop because of inner ear conditions that cause vertigo or diseases like stroke and Parkinson's. If you have a balance disorder, expert physical therapy could significantly improve your symptoms. Based in Livingston, New Jersey, Elizabeth Lee, PT, DPT, and her team at Life Home Therapy provide home visits to patients across Essex County, Morris County, Union County, Somerset County, and Passaic County who are struggling with their balance. To benefit from their expertise, call Life Home Therapy today to schedule a home visit or book an appointment online.
A balance disorder is a condition that affects your stability, meaning you might struggle to stay upright and feel unstable or dizzy. These disorders can develop because of an injury or disease affecting the structures in your body that regulate balance. These structures include:
The way your brain works (cognitive functioning) also influences your ability to balance, so many balance disorders also have a neurological aspect.
Determining the cause of your balance disorder is an important first step, as treatments can vary depending on why you're having problems balancing. Some of the treatments Dr. Lee uses at Life Home Therapy include:
Balance retraining and specific exercises can help you correct imbalances, learn to manage your condition and reduce its effects, and stay physically active.
If you have benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a common cause of balance problems originating in the inner ear, Dr. Lee can perform vestibular rehabilitation. This procedure involves moving your head in specific ways to clear the calcium particles from your inner ear that are causing the problem.
Conditions like Meniere's disease and migraines that might cause balance problems can benefit from dietary changes such as reducing salt and avoiding triggers like caffeine. All balance disorders are likely to improve if your general health is better, so eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and reducing your stress levels can all help.
Your gait is the way you walk, and it can often have an impact on your ability to balance. Dr. Lee uses gait training to improve the way your legs and feet move and increase your stability. Gait training also strengthens weakened muscles, improves joint flexibility and posture, and increases your confidence.
Dr. Lee can identify other musculoskeletal problems that may be contributing to your balance disorder. She uses physical therapy techniques like targeted exercises to strengthen your connective tissues and may recommend changes to your footwear that could help with balance problems.
Physical therapy can play a vital role in helping you recover from a balance disorder or learn to adapt to an incurable condition like Parkinson's disease. If you're having problems balancing, get expert help by calling Life Home Therapy today or book an appointment online.
