Enhance Your Balance with Physical Therapy in Brighton, MI!
Have you felt unsteady, lightheaded, or found yourself leaning on furniture to stay upright? These could be signs of a balance disorder needing care. At APEX Physical Therapy, our caring physical therapists help uncover the root cause of your symptoms and guide you through effective physical therapy tailored for balance disorders.
Balance issues affect people of all ages and genders. For those over 65, balance loss is a leading cause of falls. Multiple factors can affect balance, but many improve significantly with targeted physical therapy!
Schedule a visit at our Brighton, MI clinic to start improving your balance and regain confidence.
Understanding Balance Disorders
Balance problems can arise from physical conditions like injuries or arthritis in the feet, knees, or hips. Neurological issues such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or nerve damage from spinal disorders and peripheral neuropathies can also disrupt balance. Sometimes, mental factors like fear of falling influence how people move and participate in activities.
A key contributor to balance is the vestibular system, which sends important signals to the brain about motion and position. When this system malfunctions, you might feel dizzy, experience blurred vision, or feel as if you’re moving when you’re still. Our experienced therapists work to identify these causes and craft a plan that suits you.
- Static balance: Staying steady while standing still with your center of gravity within your base of support.
- Dynamic balance: Maintaining stability while moving, such as walking or running.
The vestibular system plays a vital role in both types by providing your brain with information about your position and motion. Dysfunction here often underlies many balance challenges.
How APEX Physical Therapy Treats Balance Disorders
Physical therapy is a trusted and effective way to treat balance problems. Our skilled team carefully evaluates all factors affecting your balance to develop a personalized treatment plan. Your first visit includes a detailed assessment.
We assess your static and dynamic balance through specific tests, analyze your gait and posture, and review your medical history and any injuries.
A typical clinical risk evaluation includes:
- Reviewing any history of falls
- Examining gait, balance, mobility, and muscle strength
- Assessing your confidence and fear of falling
- Checking for vision issues and effects of glasses or contacts
- Evaluating your home environment for hazards
- Performing cardiovascular checks including resting and active heart rates
- Reviewing medications that might impact balance
This thorough approach helps us tailor your therapy to your needs using proven methods.
Around half of dizziness cases are linked to vestibular system problems. This system provides crucial information about head position and movement, which controls your balance, posture, and stability.
Common vestibular disorders include:
- Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
- Meniere’s disease
- Vestibular Neuronitis
- Perilymph Fistula
Vestibular System Rehabilitation
Vestibular therapy helps restore balance by retraining the vestibular system to send accurate signals to the brain. Our Brighton, MI therapists teach exercises to reestablish normal vestibular function.
Customized rehabilitation involves adaptation and compensation techniques, combining passive and active therapies to retrain your brain and regain stability. Common treatments include:
- Special head positioning maneuvers
- Balance and coordination exercises
- Home exercise programs
- Patient education on balance strategies
We emphasize daily balance training, including head movements in all planes, especially for older adults to reduce fall risk and improve walking.
Strength and Mobility Exercises
Physical issues like joint pain or muscle weakness can cause instability. Luckily, targeted exercises are very effective.
Our therapists identify areas needing strength or flexibility improvement and teach exercises to build muscle and enhance mobility, making movement easier and safer.
At APEX Physical Therapy, we prescribe balance, coordination, strengthening exercises, and stretches tailored to restore your vestibular function and improve balance.
