Get Your Balance Back with Physical Therapy
If You are Limited by a Balance or Gait Disorder, Physical Therapy can Help You Get Back on Your Feet
Is your balance not quite what it used to be? Do you find yourself reaching out for walls, railings, or other objects to balance yourself? Have you noticed pain in your hips, knees, or other joints that make it difficult for you to walk? These are all indications of a Balance & Gait Disorders.
At ProTailored Physical Therapy, we can manage your symptoms and in many cases, we can help relieve your condition altogether. There are many reasons why this kind of condition may occur, and it can cause both physical and mental limitations in your daily life. Underlying musculoskeletal and neurological disorders can cause or aggravate a balance or gait problem. Fortunately, ProTailored Physical Therapy in Fort Wayne, IN can help.
To find out more about how our balance and gait disorders services can benefit you, contact our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapy office today at 260-739-0300.
PT treatments for balance and gait disorders
Physical therapy is the best option for balance and gait disorders. Our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapists can provide you with the best techniques for improving your balance and ability to walk.
When you arrive for your initial consultation, our physical therapist will conduct a comprehensive physical evaluation to examine your balance, gait, stance, medical history, and symptoms, before creating a personalized treatment plan made for your specific needs.
This treatment plan may include:
Stretches
Stretching will help improve your flexibility and your range of motion. This will give you more control and quicker reactions with your movements, also reducing your risk of injury. It will also keep your muscles from becoming too tight and stiff.
Strengthening exercises
Your evaluation will help determine what problem areas in your body may need help. Our physical therapist will provide you with strengthening exercises that will build up your muscles, thus making it much easier for you to move around and reduce your risk of injury.
Gait retraining exercises
Sometimes, abnormalities in gait can be corrected through “retraining” where you learn proper techniques.
Vestibular rehabilitation
This physical therapy treatment works to improve your vision, nerves, muscles, and the vestibular system as a whole, in order to maintain a steady balance. If you are suffering from BPPV, our Fort Wayne, IN physical therapists will provide you with specific exercises that will move the calcium debris to the correct parts of your ear.
What’s causing my balance or gait disorder?
There can be many causes of balance and gait disorders, as they can develop from many different underlying conditions. For balance disorders, many are related to issues in the vestibular system, which is a delicate collection of fluid-filled chambers and sensory nerves, located in the inner ear, and thousands of nerve receptors in the joints throughout your body. The vestibular system is responsible for your sense of position, also known as “proprioception.”
Some common vestibular conditions resulting in balance disorders include:
Injury or ailment
Even if your brain and nervous system are working in harmony with one another, a sudden injury, disease, or other ailment causing muscle weakness can interfere with your balance and make it difficult to keep yourself upright.
Neurological issues
This may include Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, or stroke. Anything that affects your neurological system can also impact your balance.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
This occurs when calcium debris breaks off in the inner ear, causing issues with balance.
How can I tell the difference between a balance or gait disorder?
Balance and gait disorders belong to a family of functional problems that interfere with your positional awareness, your normal means of walking or running, and your ability to keep yourself upright.
Balance and gait disorders are closely related, but they do have some distinct differences. Balance disorders are both physical and mental, as your brain may think you are moving, even when you are not. Changes to your joint strength, mobility, and ability to sense where your joints are in space (proprioception), all have physical consequences on your balance.
Gait disorders can cause abnormal movements in the way you walk and run, and these can become exaggerated with age. According to Move Forward Physical Therapy, gait disorders account for 17 percent of senior falls.
Looking for help? Contact us today
Are you looking to get back on your feet? Request an appointment at ProTailored Physical Therapy today by calling 260-573-4998! We’ll help you find the balance you’re looking for after just a few sessions.
Visit one of our physical therapy clinics in North Fort Wayne, Northwest Fort Wayne, Central Fort Wayne, Southwest Fort Wayne or East Fort Wayne, IN today!
Your Questions Answered
Have questions about physical therapy for balance issues? We’ve answered some of the most common questions patients ask before getting started.
What makes ProTailored effective for older adults who want to stay active?
Many older adults come to ProTailored with one goal in mind: staying active and continuing to do the things they enjoy. Our approach focuses on helping patients improve mobility, build strength, reduce pain, and maintain independence.
What makes our care unique is the combination of one-on-one treatment, personalized care plans, advanced clinical training, and our proven 4-Phase Program. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, we work to identify and address the factors contributing to pain or movement limitations.
Patients often tell us they experience improvements in daily activities such as walking, exercising, gardening, traveling, and participating in recreational activities. Our goal is to help you move with greater confidence and enjoy the lifestyle you want to live.
What fall-prevention and balance services does ProTailored offer for older adults?
If you are concerned about balance, stability, or fall risk, ProTailored offers personalized fall-prevention and balance programs designed to help you move safely and confidently.
Your therapist will evaluate factors that may contribute to falls, including balance, strength, mobility, walking patterns, and overall functional movement. Based on your evaluation, we create a customized treatment plan that may include balance training, strengthening exercises, gait retraining, and functional activities that improve safety during everyday tasks.
In addition to improving physical performance, we provide education and strategies to help reduce fall risk at home and in the community. Our goal is to help you maintain independence, improve confidence, and safely return to your daily activities.
What balance and fall-prevention services does ProTailored offer for older adults recovering from surgery or back pain?
Balance issues can affect confidence and independence, especially after surgery or when dealing with back pain. ProTailored offers personalized balance and fall-prevention services designed to help improve stability and make everyday movement feel safer.
Your therapist may use balance training, gait retraining, vestibular rehabilitation, strength exercises, and functional movement activities to improve coordination and reduce fall risk. Treatment can also focus on daily activities such as navigating stairs, getting in and out of chairs, and moving safely at home.
We take a one-on-one approach so your therapist can closely monitor your progress and create a plan tailored specifically to your needs and goals.