Balance and Its Effect on the Human Body
Injuries to the body can happen anytime and anywhere. Whether it’s during a sports game, car accident, or surgery, recovery is important to getting back to daily life. H&D Physical Therapy provides high-quality rehabilitation to anyone in need. Balance is something that can be negatively affected after an injury. Balance Therapy 30 East 60th Street can help improve balance for better wellness.
What is Balance?
Balance comes from the vestibular system. It is located in the inner ear that sends messages to your brain about head positioning. There are two vestibular structures by each ear that act as levels in your head. The vestibular system works together with the visual system to create balance. Eyesight is important to be able to see the objects around you. Nerve endings in the proprioceptive system can become damaged caused by injuries. This can cause miscommunication signals to the brain, negatively affecting balance.
How to Detect Bad Balance
Balance can be altered after an injury. Doctors can assess patients if they feel their balance is off. Signs of vertigo or spinning sensations can occur if the body’s equilibrium is affected. Trained professionals at Balance Therapy in New York City can detect symptoms of off-balance and create a program to help the patient in need.
Exercises to Improve Balance
- Standing on one leg.
- Walking in a straight line.
- Using balance beams and wobble boards.
- Yoga.
- Pilates.
Complete these exercises a few times a week to increase balance! Improvements in balance should be seen if the exercises are completed regularly.
What Can Good Balance Enhance?
- Athletic Performance.
- Headache Prevention
- Everyday mobility.
- Joint movement.
- Muscle tightness prevention.
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Balance Therapy 30 East 60th Street is available to help anyone in need. Injuries to the body are physically and mentally exhausting. It is a struggle that no person should face on their own. Our professionals are working together to give the highest quality of care. Improving balance creates an increase in daily functions. Getting patients on the right track physically leads to a better life mentally. H&D Physical Therapy is ready to help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vestibular Therapy
For many, unless they have already visited a doctor and have received a recommendation for vestibular therapy, this treatment option is relatively unknown or uncommon. What is common is the symptom for which vestibular therapy treats: dizziness. Every single year in the US, over 10 million people will visit their physician with the complaint of dizziness. Dizziness is the most common symptom of patients over the age of 75. It is time for everyone to get better informed on vestibular therapy here, with answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about vestibular therapy! For more information on vestibular therapy and treatment with Vestibular Therapy near Lexington Avenue, contact the experts at H&D Physical Therapy!
What Exactly is Vestibular Therapy?
Vestibular therapy, or vestibular rehabilitation therapy, is a specialized form of physical therapy used to treat vestibular disorders (disorders affecting the sensory system responsible for balance and coordination) characterized by the feeling of dizziness, vertigo, or problems with balance, posture, and/or vision.
What Does Vestibular Therapy Involve?
Therapy involves a personalized exercise program created based on your specific ailments. Programs are usually 1-2 times per week for around 6-8 weeks. Some exercises you can expect to work on with your therapist can include:
- Neck mobility/stretching.
- Vision stability training.
- Posture training.
- Balance retraining.
- And many more!
Does Vestibular Therapy Really Work?
Yes! This form of therapy has proven to be effective for many. For many, vestibular therapy will be the only treatment they need to get rid of their symptoms, while for others, it still acts as a pre or post-surgery treatment plan to achieve desired results. Specific outcomes many can expect with vestibular training include but are not limited to:
- Better balance and decreased risk of falling.
- Improved vision stability and coordination.
- And most importantly, fewer dizziness symptoms!
Expectations and results can be specified and explained in full by the specially trained and certified physical therapists at H&D Physical Therapy for those intrigued by the notion of Vestibular Therapy!
Contact H&D Physical Therapy - Balance Therapy 30 East 60th Street
If you or a loved one is experiencing any discomfort associated with dizziness, make an appointment with H&D Physical Therapy to get a diagnosis and personalized treatment option! Discover how our team of physical therapists specializing in Vestibular Therapy can help you today!
How Do Vestibular Issues Arise?
If you are experiencing dizziness, vertigo, or are having balance issues, you may be suffering from vestibular dysfunction. The vestibular system is part of the inner ear and controls your sense of balance and spatial orientation. Vestibular issues can cause a variety of symptoms that may have harmed your quality of life. If you are seeking Vestibular Therapy in New York City, H&D Physical Therapy is here for you!
Recognizing the Symptoms
The vestibular system is located in the inner ear and is essential for our sense of balance. When this system is damaged, a vestibular disorder can arise. Vestibular issues can occur in people of all ages. However, it is most commonly seen in older adults. Symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Vertigo
- Feeling off balance
- Blurred vision
- Falling or stumbling
Although less common, other secondary symptoms may include:
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Tinnitus
- Hearing loss
- Cognitive impairment
- Fear and anxiety
Dealing with vestibular issues can be both frightening and debilitating. Vestibular Therapy in New York City is an option available for people seeking treatment.
How Do Vestibular Issues Arise?
Knowing what causes vestibular problems can help prevent damaging side effects. Research shows that approximately 69 million Americans have experienced some form of vestibular dysfunction. These issues are caused by a variety of factors.
- Medications- Ototoxicity refers to inner ear problems as a result of medication. Taking high doses or long-term uses of certain antibiotics can cause damage to the inner ear.
- Viral infections- Examples of common viral infections that can cause vestibular problems are measles, influenza, mononucleosis, rubella, mumps, polio, shingles, chickenpox, and hepatitis.
- Inner ear problems- Damage to nerves that send signals to the brain from the ear can cause vestibular problems and head to hear loss.
- Traumatic brain injury- Trauma to the head or neck caused by a concussion can lead to vestibular problems.
- Whiplash- Forceful, rapid movement of the neck can cause nerve injury.
- Injury to the ear- Sudden barometric pressure changes can trigger vestibular issues.
- Migraines or Stroke- Stroke or chronic migraines that occur in the cerebellum or brainstem where balance is controlled.
- Aging- Aging naturally affects all sensory systems in the body. As we age, the number of sensory hair cells in the ear decreases.
Vestibular balance disorders can be diagnosed by performing several physical examinations :
- Hearing exam
- Vision exam
- Blood tests
- MRI of the brain
- Clinical tests of balance
Treatment Options
If you are dealing with vestibular issues, Vestibular Therapy in New York City can help alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of recurrence. Vestibular therapy treatment options allow patients to meet with trained professionals who are educated on vestibular disorders and are there to guide their rehabilitation. Some examples of treatment plans are:
- Exercises to reduce effects of motion sensitivity
- Visual motion exercises to improve dizziness and movement-related blurred vision
- Balance exercises to improve mobility and reduce the risk of falls
- Treatment of any underlying causes
- Create changes in lifestyle
- Medication
- Surgery
With physical therapy, exercises can help reduce and treat symptoms of dizziness and imbalance. It is also important to teach condition-specific education that will provide each patient tools for effective treatment with lasting results.
Vestibular Therapy in New York City
H&D Physical Therapy is NYC’s leading physical therapy clinic since 1997. Here, we offer a variety of services, including Vestibular Therapy, to help each patient with their concerns. We believe in treating people, not their body parts. If you are currently suffering from vestibular dysfunction-related symptoms, do not hesitate to seek help. Call today or visit our website to schedule an appointment to meet with one of our therapists and begin your rehabilitation journey!
How does GAIT affect your balance?
Gait and balance disorders are a leading cause of falls in older adults and often result in injuries, disabilities, loss of independence, and diminishing quality of life. Preventative measures like early indication and appropriate intervention are key factors in working to prevent dysfunction and possible damage. The talented physical therapy team at H&D Physical Therapy is dedicated to providing you personalized balance therapy with one one-on-one care.
What is GAIT?
Gait refers to the pattern of movement used when a person walks or runs. Relying on the:
- Ears
- Eyes
- Brain
- Muscles
- Sensory nerves
Movement of the body, in relation to walking, requires all of these aspects to be properly functioning in order to work. Problems with these areas can lead to both temporary or long-term walking difficulties, falls, or injury if not properly treated and addressed. Known as gait disorder, comprised of many variations, all can affect your quality of life and put you at greater risk of harming yourself. Though common in older adults, gait issues are a major cause of falls in this group; the majority of changes in gait are caused by underlying medical issues and should not be viewed as a natural part of aging. Common causes include arthritis and orthostatic tension but are also often side effects of more serious conditions like stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, ALS, and other brain disorders/injury. In younger people with gait issues, causes usually stem from developmental problems such as flat feet and bowing of the legs.
How Does GAIT Affect Your Balance?
When a person walks, their gait is the pattern of their limb movements. The capacity of the body to retain its center of gravity while remaining upright is known as balance. The brain, neurological system, sensory organs, and musculoskeletal system all work together to control gait and balance. A dysfunction in any of these areas can lead to gait and balance issues, as well as an increased risk of falling. Some people experience gait issues without experiencing any alterations in their balance. However, if a person has balance issues, it frequently impacts their gait. Common symptoms of gait and balance trouble include:
- Difficulty walking
- Trouble maintaining balance
- Unsteadiness or swaying while standing or walking
- Difficulty rising from a seated position
- Slowed walking pace
As a result, a person may experience:
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Vertigo
- Motion sickness
- Double vision
- Muscle tightness or spasms
- Weakness in the leg muscles
- Weakness on one side of the body
- Pain when moving makes it difficult to maintain balance
- Numbness in the feet
- Reduced perception of where body parts are in space
What can balance therapy do for me?
Each patient has their own set of symptoms and diagnosis, requiring unique plans of treatment. Standardized balance and fall risk assessments can help evaluate a person’s balance and mobility and help guide our physical therapists in creating a course of action right for you. Treatment may include:
- Balance and gait exercises to improve mobility and reduce the risk of falls
- Manual therapy to address soft tissue and joint mobility
- Resistance exercises
- Functional muscle lengthening and strengthening
- Use of orthotics or assistive devices
The team here at H&D Physical Therapy can help to learn to manage and minimize your gait and balance issues to provide the balance therapy you require to give you back as much mobility as possible.
H&D Physical Therapy – Specializing in Balance Therapy 30 East 60th Street
If you have questions regarding treatment options or whether physical therapy is appropriate for you, please contact us or book an appointment today. We would be happy to discuss your situation in advance of an evaluation session.
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