From Danville Regional Health System
Better Health Magazine Archives

Most people at some time or another have felt dizzy or lost their balance. But when it becomes a persistent problem, it can severely affect one's ability to perform everyday activities - and can even lead to a fall and loss of independence. To address this problem, Danville Regional Medical Center has developed a rehabilitation program designed especially for patients who have difficulty balancing.

Using a foam block, Physical Therapist Bryon Biggs tests a patient's ability to balance.

The vestibular sense (inner ear), vision, sense of touch, and sense of body position all work together to help the body maintain balance. When one or more of these senses malfunctions, some degree of imbalance results. Physicians refer patients to the program who have a history of imbalance and/or falling, or because of persistent dizziness. The therapist assists the physician in the treatment of those symptoms by giving regular feedback.

Once patients have been referred to the program, physical therapists work with them to clearly document the specific problems they are having. "We find what movements provoke their dizziness or other symptoms," explained Bryon Biggs, a Physical Therapist at Danville Regional Medical Center. "Then we guide the patient through balance retraining, which is a tailored exercise program to address their specific problems. Gradually, we make the exercises more difficult, helping them to adapt and perform more difficult movements with a minimum of dizziness or loss of balance."

Patients of all ages can experience balance problems, but the elderly are more at risk for injury from falling. Some studies report that each year, half of those over age 65 experience a fall, and 5 to 10% of those falls will result in a significant injury of fracture. "We've developed handouts to help elderly patients adapt to their homes," said Biggs. "It includes numerous tips, such as how to organize things in the kitchen, install night-lights and highlight the edge of steps. Many elderly patients recognize that if they can work with their doctors and therapists to improve their balance, they can prevent falls and be safer in their own homes."