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Balance and Gait Disorders

Amanda P.

My 90+ year-old mother has been receiving Physical Therapy from Optimal Home Rehab for the past several months.  The company (and, in particular, Erin) is well organized and very responsive to all needs and questions we have had, regarding scheduling and care. 


The physical therapist, Doriean,  has been great to work with.  She is excellent in setting appointments well in advance, and working with our request for afternoon hours only.  Her greatest strength, however, lies in getting my mother to do what no one else can: MOVE!  Doriean’s lovely personality charmed my Mom from the start and, as a result, my mother is willing to try the exercises.  The moves are reasonable, and so good for my mother to accomplish.  Everyone at our house appreciates Doriean’s good humor and persistence very much.

Mary Lou D.
Doriean offered consistent, enthusiastic encouragement to my elderly aunt to get up from her chair and MOVE! With a cognitively compromised but willful patient, Doriean was perceptive, gentle, attuned to her client, and totally committed to my aunt’s wellbeing. Much appreciated, highly recommended!

Feeling Off-Balance?

We have all experienced 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! This sensation is fairly common with balance and gait disorders.

Feeling dizzy and unstable, on the other hand, can be a common occurrence for certain people. Do you find yourself looking for walls, railings, 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 Optimal Home Rehab at (267) 641-5804 or click here to request an appointment with our greater Philadelphia area, PA physical therapists 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 can be both physical and mental, because your brain may believe you are moving when you aren’t. You may get a sense of falling, stagger when walking, or feel as if you are floating. Blurred vision and dizziness are other typical symptoms. Changes in joint strength, mobility, and proprioception (the capacity to perceive where your joints are in space) all have an impact on your 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 ailments, 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 greater Philadelphia area, PA physical therapists can, fortunately, assist you in regaining your balance and correcting your gait.

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 and ailments

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.

Optimal Home Rehab 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 Optimal Home Rehab, 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, 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 the greater Philadelphia area, PA 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 Optimal Home Rehab by clicking HERE today.