Balance and gait disorders are functional problems that can interfere with positional awareness, normal walking or running, and the ability to stay upright. You may notice that you feel less sure-footed, rely on walls or furniture for support, or change how you walk because of hip, knee, or other joint pain. Underlying musculoskeletal and neurological conditions can cause or aggravate these concerns, but physical therapy may significantly reduce symptoms or help correct the condition.
A sudden injury, disease, or other ailment that causes muscle weakness can interfere with balance and make it harder to remain upright.
Parkinson’s disease, brain injury, stroke, and other conditions affecting the neurological system can also affect balance.
The inner-ear vestibular system and nerve receptors in your joints help create proprioception—your sense of position. BPPV may occur when calcium debris breaks off in the inner ear and disrupts balance.
Our Knoxville physical therapists create a plan around your specific needs. Treatment may include stretching to improve flexibility and range of motion, strengthening exercises to build support for movement, vestibular rehabilitation to address the vision, nerves, muscles, and vestibular system, and gait retraining to help correct walking abnormalities. For BPPV, specific exercises may help move calcium debris to the correct part of the ear.