You must exercise your balance system just like your muscular and cardiovascular systems. Every week patients will tell me that they have poor balance when trying an exercise that requires them to stand on one foot. They often seem mystified as to why their balance is poor, as if their balance just left them unexpectedly. What most of them don’t realize is that your balance system must continually be challenged if you are going to have great balance. This is especially important for people as they age, as falling can become a major health concern.
Three parts of your body work together to create your balance system. Your eyes, your inner ear and proprioceptors in your tendons and ligaments. If any of these three parts are compromised you could have decreased balance. Poor vision affects how well your eyes help your balance. Your vestibular system is housed in your inner ear and head trauma or fluid in your ears due to sickness, can cause dizziness that affects your balance. Badly sprained or injured ankles, knees, and hips can affect how well your proprioceptors in your joints work to help you balance. The good news is that all of these systems can be retrained to help your balance. And sometimes there is nothing wrong with any of your balance systems, you are just not challenging yourself on a regular basis.
In the video I go over a progression of exercises to help you start getting your balance back. Challenge yourself with these exercises to help build confidence in your ability to control your body. A lot of your ability to balance is being able to control your body as it moves. Then go challenge your balance in the real world by going for a hike in the woods. Going for a fun hike in the woods that makes you have to step up and step over things is an awesome way to keep your balance system strong!
If you are an active adult in Roswell, Alpharetta, or Johns Creek and you feel your balance is not as good as it should be, we would love to help you! At Mission Move Physical Therapy we are balance experts and want to keep you moving! Call us at 678-400-0300.
