Why is good balance so important?
Did you know that 76 million Americans will experience some sort of dizzy spell or vertigo at some point in their lives that affects their balance and ability to stand upright? In fact, the second most commonly reported complaint within doctors’ offices is loss of balance.
Having good balance is a key part of being in shape. It’s right up there with flexibility, strength, and endurance! The better your balance is, the easier time you’ll have performing your daily tasks such as walking, going up and down stairs, or even just standing on your toes to get something off the top shelf.
When your balance is aligned, you’re also at a much lower risk of receiving an injury, such as a bone fracture, from falling. Improving your balance means improving your coordination, the stability of your joints, your reaction time, and your overall health!
Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy in Springfield is happy to offer balance assessment testing to our patients in need.
This diagnostic testing is aimed at helping patients dealing with balance issues to regain their ability to stand and walk safely and comfortably, and get back to their daily routines.
Are you feeling off balance, or noticing that you’re having to catch yourself often so that you don’t fall? If so, there may be an underlying issue that requires the help of one of our experts here at Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy.
Who can benefit from a balance assessment?
At Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy in Springfieldwe want you to be able to live life without limitations – to be able to enjoy physical activities, move with ease, and even navigate uneven terrains without fear of falling. This all begins with your balance.
Dizziness and vertigo are two of the most common reasons for needing a balance assessment. Symptoms of dizziness and vertigo can vary from acute to chronic and in some severe cases, they can even be indicators of serious health risks.
According to Healthline, here are some of the most common causes of dizziness:
- sudden drop in blood pressure
- heart muscle disease
- decrease in blood volume
- anxiety disorders
- anemia (low iron)
- meniere’s disease
- hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
- vertigo
- ear infection
- dehydration
- heat stroke
- excessive exercise
- motion sickness
Balance assessments are great for our patients living with balance and/or gait issues, such as aging adults, vestibular therapy patients, and neuro patients. After your balance has been properly assessed, balance and gait training exercises will be prescribed based on your needs.
These training exercises will include activities to not only improve balance and gait mechanics but also increase your confidence and safety in navigating across different terrains and around different obstacles.
What will happen during my balance assessment?
Balance assessments are simple, pain-free, and fairly quick. At Advance Physical & Aquatic Therapy, you can expect the following diagnostic tests to take place:
- Electronystagmography (ENG) & Videonystagmography (VNG) – This measures your eye movements to determine whether or not you have damage in your inner ear
- Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (VEMP) – This test measures certain muscles’ reactions to sound and can indicate inner ear problems.
- Posturography (CDP) – This test measures how well you’re able to maintain balance while standing.
- Dix hallpike maneuver – This test measures how your eye reacts to random, abrupt movements.
Based on the findings from your assessment, your physical therapist will create a customized treatment plan that is aimed at lessening your symptoms, improving your gait and balance, and lowering the chances of this problem returning in the future.
Call us today
Feeling like the world is spinning under your feet? This is no way to liveAdvance Physical & Aquatic Therapy in Springfield can give you the chance to feel that way once more!
To learn more about our clinic’s balance assessments, call our clinic today.