Balance & Gait Disorders
Balance and gait disorders make you feel unsteady, off balance or unsure of your footing when you stand or walk. Physical therapy evaluates why, then retrains how you move so you can walk with more confidence. Western Slope Rehab and Performance treats balance and gait problems in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.
Signs of a balance or gait problem
You may recognize some of these:
- Reaching for walls, railings or furniture to stay steady
- Feeling like you are falling or stumbling when you walk
- Dizziness or blurred vision when you move
- Feeling as if the ground is moving under your feet
- An uneven walking pattern that others notice
Balance and gait are not the same thing
Balance disorder
Your brain may think you are moving when you are not. Joint strength, mobility and proprioception, your body's sense of where it is, all affect balance.
Gait disorder
Your walking or running pattern is irregular. This can become more noticeable with age. Strokes, inner ear problems, foot problems and even ill-fitting shoes can make it worse.
They often overlap
Either can come from musculoskeletal or neurological problems, so we look at both.
What can cause balance and gait problems
Neurological conditions
There are many. Parkinson's disease, a brain injury or a stroke are examples.
Injuries and illness
A sudden injury or illness that causes muscle weakness can throw off your balance. See Generalized Weakness.
BPPV and the inner ear
Calcium debris in the inner ear can break loose and disturb your balance. See Vestibular Rehab / Dizziness & Balance.
What the first visit looks at
Your therapist examines your balance, gait, stance, medical history and symptoms. That assessment shapes a plan tailored to your needs. Many people with balance trouble are also at risk of a fall, so our Fall Prevention work fits into your plan when it applies.
Exercises and treatment we use
Gait retraining
Relearning proper movement patterns, which can sometimes correct gait abnormalities and helps runners too.
Vestibular rehabilitation
Specific exercises, including ones to move calcium debris to the right place in the ear, while retraining vision, nerves, muscles and the vestibular system to hold you steady. See Vestibular Therapy.
Strengthening
We find the areas that need strength and build them with Therapeutic Exercise, so moving is easier and your injury risk goes down.
Stretching
Better flexibility and range of motion give you more control and keep muscles from becoming tight and stiff.
Seek emergency care if unsteadiness comes with
- Sudden loss of balance with slurred speech or a drooping face
- Sudden weakness or numbness on one side
- A sudden, severe headache or double vision
Call 911. These can be signs of a stroke.
Walk with more confidence from Grand Junction
If you are having trouble staying steady, do not wait for a fall. We see patients from Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands. You can start physical therapy without a referral from a doctor in most cases. Some insurance plans, including Medicare, still need a doctor's sign-off on the plan of care (Direct Access). Call (970) 314-9822 and we will check your plan.
We see patients from Grand Junction and the surrounding Grand Valley: Fruita, Palisade, Orchard Mesa, Appleton, Clifton and the Redlands.