Balance Disorders and Falls Prevention

Understanding Your Balance System: How We Help You Regain Stability

Balance is something most of us take for granted—until it becomes a problem. If you’ve ever felt unsteady, dizzy, or like the room is spinning around you, you might be experiencing a balance or vestibular disorder. At PhysioActive, we’re here to help you understand what’s happening and how we can help you regain your stability and confidence.

What Is a Balance Disorder?

A balance disorder is more than just occasional dizziness—it’s a disruption in your body’s ability to maintain its position and stability. Our inner ear, specifically an organ called the labyrinth, plays a crucial role in our balance system. The labyrinth works in conjunction with your visual system (eyes) and skeletal system (bones and joints) to help you stay upright and oriented. When these systems send conflicting signals to the brain, or when there’s an issue within the vestibular system itself, you may experience symptoms like vertigo, dizziness, or a sensation of floating.

How Does the Balance System Work?

Your balance system is a complex network that includes the semicircular canals in your inner ear, which detect rotational movements of the head. These canals are filled with fluid that moves when you nod or turn your head, signaling the brain about your head’s position and speed of movement. Additionally, two other structures—the utricle and saccule—detect linear movements and changes in position related to gravity.

All this information is processed by your brain, which then coordinates with your eyes and muscles to keep you balanced. If any part of this system is off-kilter, it can lead to feelings of dizziness or unsteadiness.

Symptoms of a Balance Disorder

If you have a balance disorder, you might experience a range of symptoms, including:

• Vertigo (a spinning sensation)
• Dizziness
• Poor balance or unsteadiness
• Difficulty reading or concentrating
• Disorientation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Motion sensitivity
• Fatigue, depression, or decreased concentration due to chronic symptoms

These symptoms can range from mild to severe and may come and go or persist over time.

Common Causes of Balance Disorders

Balance disorders can be caused by various factors, including infections, head injuries, blood circulation issues, certain medications, or aging. Conditions like benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), labyrinthitis, Ménière’s disease, and vestibular neuronitis are some of the more common vestibular disorders that can disrupt your balance.

Diagnosing Balance Disorders

Diagnosing a balance disorder requires a comprehensive evaluation, often involving specialized tests to assess how well your vestibular system is functioning. At PhysioActive, we use advanced diagnostic tools to pinpoint the source of your balance issues, ensuring you receive an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

How Are Balance Disorders Treated?

Treatment for balance disorders is highly individualized, depending on the underlying cause of your symptoms. One of the most effective treatments is vestibular rehabilitation, which includes specific exercises designed to help your brain and body compensate for the disrupted signals from your vestibular system. This therapy can significantly reduce symptoms and improve your quality of life.

In some cases, dietary changes, medications, or even surgery may be necessary, particularly for conditions like Ménière’s disease. However, vestibular rehabilitation remains a cornerstone of treatment for many balance disorders.

Why Choose PhysioActive?

At PhysioActive, our team of experts is dedicated to helping you regain your balance and confidence. We offer comprehensive evaluations and personalized treatment plans that address the unique aspects of your condition. Whether you’re dealing with dizziness, vertigo, or other balance issues, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Don’t let a balance disorder keep you from living your life to the fullest. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and start your journey toward better balance and well-being.

Understanding the Prevalence of Dizziness and Balance Disorders

Dizziness and balance disorders are more common than many people realize, and they can significantly impact your quality of life. At PhysioActive, we understand the challenges these conditions present and are here to help you navigate them with expert care and personalized treatment plans. Here are some important statistics that highlight the prevalence and impact of these disorders:

• Dizziness and vertigo are prevalent across all ages, with estimates ranging from 1.8% in young adults to over 30% in the elderly. These conditions lead to considerable morbidity and often require extensive use of health services.
• It’s estimated that 65% of individuals over the age of 60 experience dizziness or loss of balance, often on a daily basis.
• About 30% of people over the age of 65 are affected by dizziness or vertigo.
• In the primary care setting, 70% of elderly patients present with dizziness, with 3,200 per 100,000 new cases per year visiting a primary care physician.
• 23-30% of adults have experienced at least one episode of dizziness, and 3.5% of adults experience chronic, recurrent episodes lasting more than one year by the age of 65.
• Approximately 12.5 million Americans over the age of 65 have a dizziness or balance problem that significantly interferes with their lives.
• There are an estimated 5 to 8 million physician visits for dizziness in the United States each year, with dizziness being a primary reason for an office visit in the over-75 age group.
• One in three people will experience dizziness or imbalance during their lifetime. In the US, the estimated cost of medical care for patients with balance disorders exceeds $1 billion annually.
• Nonspecific disequilibrium affects about one-third of people over the age of 75
• Diagnosing dizziness and vertigo can be challenging, especially in elderly persons, where it often represents dysfunction in more than one body system.
• Many cases of dizziness or vertigo are actually neurological in origin.
• In a study involving 96 asymptomatic controls and 149 dizzy subjects, ENG failed to discriminate dizzy subjects from controls and failed to differentiate various dizziness syndromes.

At PhysioActive, we are dedicated to helping you manage and overcome dizziness and balance disorders through comprehensive assessments and evidence-based treatments. Our goal is to restore your stability and improve your quality of life.

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