Finding Balance
Therapy options at Baylor Irving help put people back on solid ground.
Many people struggle with dizziness or balance problems as they age. “For most people, balance problems are quite devastating. They’ll get out of bed and nest in their chair, with the phone and the remote, and never move for the rest of the day. Of course, that makes problems worse,” explains Bert Smith, a physical therapist at Baylor Medical Center at Irving.
Fortunately, with proper training, research shows that most people can have a full recovery, usually in six months or less.
1. What’s the trigger? Loss of balance can crop up from other problems—vision difficulties and inner ear abnormalities can affect balance. Blood flow problems from cardiovascular disease or stroke might be triggers. Sometimes, it’s simply lack of use.
“Older people with aches and pains sometimes sit down and do nothing,” Smith says. “And sometimes we never know what the cause is.”
2. What’s happening? Different people experience dizziness or balance problems in different ways. The Baylor Irving team incorporates everyday activities into therapy. “If someone has trouble standing with their feet together, when they’re doing dishes we’ll have them stand with their feet together over and over again to challenge their ability,” Smith says. “If when they pull on shoes they get dizzy, we’ll have them do that over and over again.”
3. What’s the solution? All the activities are individualized, depending on the problem. “We’ll have people stand with their feet in different positions, looking up, down or having their eyes closed, moving their eyes certain ways, even taking the cushions off the couch and standing on it,” Smith says. “We also have them work on their safety at home and out in the community.” Most people have outpatient visits once or twice a week for a month or two. The follow-up activities at home are crucial—they need to be done several times a day.
While you can visit Irving’s balance program without seeing your doctor, Smith says it’s best to see your physician first to look into causes for your dizziness.
By Stephanie Thurrott
For more information on the services provided, call (972) 579-8155.
Forget Falls
“People with balance problems need to be especially careful to avoid falls,” says Bert Smith, a physical therapist at Baylor Medical Center at Irving. “If you fall repeatedly, you have a high chance of breaking your hip,” which can lead to a nursing home stay that could prove to be permanent. Smith recommends:- Using night lights.
- Moving cords out of the way.
- Making sure rugs won’t slip.
- Using a cane or walker in public—even if you don’t need it, it helps warn other people that you might fall.
“If we can avoid injury, increase safety and improve their ability to perform everyday tasks, we’re happy,” he says.