Balance depends on your muscles and joints, your inner ear and your eyes working together, and all three can change with age. For older adults in Auburn and the surrounding Lee County area, balance and fall prevention is one of the programs Total Rehab Solutions lists.
Why does balance get harder as you get older?
Your brain combines signals from your body, your inner ear and your eyes to keep you steady.
Changes in leg strength, in the feeling in your feet and in your eyesight can each make it harder to recover from a trip. A physical therapist or your doctor can look at which of these applies to you.
What role does the inner ear play in fall risk?
The inner ear helps sense head movement and position. Problems there can cause dizziness, a spinning feeling or a sense of being off balance, and balance and dizziness disorders are among the conditions the practice treats.
One example is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, or BPPV, a cause of dizziness when you change position. Total Rehab Solutions also has a vestibular location, Total Rehab Vestibular in Opelika. Ask your doctor or a physical therapist whether your dizziness needs assessing.
How does reduced balance actually lead to a fall?
A fall often happens when a small trip meets a body that cannot recover in time. Things that can play a part include:
- Slower reactions.
- Weaker leg muscles.
- Less feeling in the feet.
- Changes in eyesight.
If any of these sound familiar, mention them to your doctor or a physical therapist.
Are certain older adults at higher fall risk than others?
A previous fall or a feeling of being unsteady is worth taking seriously and raising with a doctor.
Medications, a recent surgery or time in bed, arthritis in the hips or knees and osteoporosis can all matter too, so ask your doctor. If you are caring for an older parent in Auburn, a few simple questions, such as whether they have grabbed a wall recently or avoided an activity out of fear of falling, can surface a concern early.
What does a physical therapist actually do for balance problems?
A physical therapist looks at what is contributing to the unsteadiness and builds a plan around it.
At Total Rehab Solutions, balance and fall prevention is a named program, and the practice describes its care as purpose driven, evidence based and individualized. Treatment approaches it lists include therapeutic exercise, stretching and strengthening exercises, neuromuscular stimulation, patient education and posture education.
How do I know if it is time to see a physical therapist about balance?
Consider calling a physical therapist if an older adult you care about has fallen in the past year, reports dizziness when changing positions, avoids activities because of fear of falling, or has recently had surgery or a long illness that reduced their activity level. A physical therapist can evaluate the underlying cause and explain the options in plain terms.
No referral is needed to book. The Glenn Avenue clinic is at 2515 E. Glenn Avenue #104, Auburn, AL 36830, phone (334) 821-2256. The South College clinic is at 1907 South College Street Ste 208, Auburn, AL 36830, phone (334) 649-3399. New patients can also use the appointment request form on the website.
Quick checklist: signs it is time to act
- A fall or near fall in the past 12 months
- Dizziness when standing up or turning the head
- Grabbing walls, furniture, or another person for balance regularly
- Avoiding stairs, uneven ground, or crowded spaces out of fear
- Recent surgery, hospitalization, or reduced activity
- Numbness or reduced sensation in the feet
- Arthritis, osteoporosis, or a diagnosis that has changed how you walk
Sources
This article draws on the following pages.