How Physical Therapy Improves Balance and Prevents Falls in Seniors

As we age, maintaining balance becomes more challenging, and the risk of falls increases. Falls can lead to injuries, fear of movement, and loss of independence. However, physical therapy offers a solution to help seniors regain their balance and stay active. 

Why Do Seniors Experience Balance Issues?

Aging brings natural changes to our muscles, joints, and coordination. These changes, combined with other health issues, make it harder to maintain balance. Here are the key reasons why seniors face balance difficulties:

  • Muscle Weakness: The legs and core muscles lose strength, which affects balance.
  • Joint Stiffness: Joints become less flexible, making it harder to move freely.
  • Vision Problems: Poor eyesight can make navigating the environment difficult.
  • Vestibular Disorders: Inner ear problems that affect the body’s balance system.
  • Slower Reflexes: Aging reduces reaction times, making it harder to prevent falls.

How Physical Therapy Can Help

Physical therapy is one of the most effective ways to address balance problems. Through a personalized treatment plan, physical therapists work with seniors to strengthen muscles, improve coordination, and teach fall-prevention strategies.

1. Strength and Flexibility Training

Building muscle strength and improving flexibility are key components of balance. Physical therapists use exercises to strengthen the legs, core, and hips while promoting joint mobility to help seniors move with more stability.

2. Balance Exercises

Specific balance training exercises, such as standing on one foot or walking in a straight line, help retrain the body to stay steady in different situations. These exercises target the body’s ability to maintain equilibrium.

3. Coordination and Gait Training

Therapists focus on improving coordination and gait patterns. Proper posture and walking techniques reduce the risk of stumbling and improve overall mobility.

4. Vestibular Rehabilitation

For seniors with dizziness or inner ear disorders, vestibular rehabilitation helps address these issues, improving stability and reducing symptoms of dizziness.

5. Education and Prevention

Therapists also educate patients on how to safely navigate their environment and what to do if they experience a fall, which builds confidence and reduces the fear of moving.

A Patient’s Story of Balance Restoration

“After struggling with balance and dizziness problems for five years and seeing no improvement with previous treatments, Rosa G attended a balance and dizziness workshop at Bacci and Glinn Physical Therapy. She began treatment with Dr. Bacci, and after just three sessions, she felt significant improvement. Rosa is now able to enjoy more activities with her husband and grandkids, experiencing a new level of confidence and mobility.“

Rosa G

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. How long does it take to see improvement in balance?
    Most patients notice improvements within 4-6 weeks of starting therapy.
  2. Is physical therapy safe for seniors?
    Yes, physical therapists design customized programs tailored to each person’s abilities and medical conditions.
  3. Can exercises be done at home?
    Many exercises can be done at home to enhance the benefits of therapy sessions and continue progress.
  4. How often should I attend physical therapy?
    It varies, but most patients benefit from attending 1-2 sessions per week.
  5. Can physical therapy help even if I’ve already fallen?
    Yes, physical therapy can help reduce the risk of future falls by improving strength, balance, and coordination.

Take Control of Your Balance Today

Don’t wait until a fall limits your independence. Our expert therapists at Bacci and Glinn Physical Therapy are ready to help you regain your strength and confidence. Whether you’re dealing with balance issues, dizziness, or a fear of falling, we’ll design a program that fits your needs. 

Contact us today at our Visalia office at (559) 733-2478 or our Hanford office at (559) 582-1027 and start your journey toward better balance and mobility.

References:

  • Taylor D, Barrie H, Kerse N, et al. Physical therapy for improving balance in older adults: A review of evidence. Disability and Rehabilitation. Link here
  • Leland N, Elliott SJ, Ory MG. Balance interventions for reducing falls in older adults. Frontiers in Neurology. Link here
  • King AC, Rejeski WJ. Short- and long-term effects of balance training in older adults. Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy. Link here

Balance Training in Visalia

 

Looking for a clinic that specializes in balance training in Visalia?  We can help. Read below for more information about our expert clinical services.

Our Physical Therapists Can Help Older Adults Improve Balance To Reduce Their Risk For Falling

As our bodies age, they go through numerous physical and mental changes that can often make life more difficult. One of the most common issues that begins to develop in older age is impaired balance, which can turn basic everyday tasks like walking up the stairs into major challenges that precipitates fear of movement and avoidance of activities.

Having good balance means always being able to control and maintain your body’s position, and it’s necessary for normal physical functioning inside and outside of your home.

A balance disorder, on the other hand, indicates that an individual has trouble maintaining a stable and upright position when:

  • Standing,
  • Walking,
  • Or even sitting.

Older adults are at a much higher risk for having balance disorders than any other age group, as about 75% of Americans aged 70 years and older have “abnormal balance.”

This means that one or more aspects of the person’s balance is out of sync, which can often cause complications.

The risk for balance disorders increases as individuals enter their 70s and 80s due to various age-related changes and other factors, like:

  • Increased muscle weakness,
  • Joint stiffness,
  • Visual Impairments,
  • Inner ear problems,
  • Spending too much time sitting, and
  • The side effects of certain medications.

The greater likelihood of a balance disorder also ties directly into an increased risk for falling, as more than one-third of adults aged 65 years and older suffer from a fall each year. Experiencing a fall and a subsequent injury like a hip fracture can further impair your abilities and infringe on your independence.

Improving Your Balance will Reduce Your Fall Risk

Why do we provide balance training in Visalia and also in our Hanford office?

It’s essential for older adults to take measures that will improve their balance and as a result, reduce their risk for falling. Our physical therapists are great resources for this population because they can prescribe feasible tips to help you achieve a more active lifestyle—a necessary first step—and design personalized programs to mitigate your fall risk.

These fall prevention programs focus primarily on improving balance while also working to increase strength, flexibility, and proprioception (sensing your body’s location in space), which all contribute to fall risk. Specific exercises like the heel-to-toe walk, sit-to-stand exercise, and heel raise are frequently incorporated into these types of programs and can be performed at home as well.

Research Supports Our Balance Training

The benefits of fall-prevention programs have been highlighted in a recent systematic review, a robust type of study that reviewed all the available medical literature on the effectiveness of various programs to prevent falls in older adults. Results showed that programs involving light to moderate exercise training may reduce risk factors related to falls and the incidence of falls in this population.

Researchers also found that the most effective exercise programs were those that accounted for each patient’s specific needs with a personalized approach and recommended that balance training and strengthening exercises should be necessary interventions in any worthwhile fall-prevention program.

Call Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy Today for Balance Training in Visalia or Hanford

So if you or a loved one has impaired balance and you’d like to take action now, contact Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy at
559-733-2478 (Visalia) or 559-582-1027 (Hanford) to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment today.

Vestibular Therapy in Visalia or Hanford

 

Looking for vestibular therapy in Visalia or Hanford?  Let us explain more about how we can help.

Vestibular Therapy Can Correct Most Balance Problems And Help Re-stabilize Your Life

The vestibular system is the sensory system that provides the brain with the most important information regarding the body’s sense of balance and spatial orientation, which allows it to smoothly coordinate your movements.

This system detects motion of the head—mainly through the inner ear, as well as the eyes, muscles, and joints—and based on this information it generates reflexes that are crucial for completing most daily activities. Some of these tasks include stabilizing our gaze and maintaining the posture of our head and body as you move.

When the vestibular system functions properly, most people are unaware of its existence and don’t think twice when performing physical tasks like walking on uneven surfaces or arising from bed in the middle of the night.

However, when the vestibular system becomes damaged in any way, it leads to a variety of symptoms, most notably dizziness, vertigo, and impaired balance.

There are several causes of dizziness and vertigo, each of which can affect balance in different ways. A condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the more common contributors. BPPV is a disorder of the inner ear that involves tiny calcium crystals, or rocks, which normally help to regulate balance.

Infection or inflammation can cause these rocks to detach and travel to other parts of the inner ear, where they trick the brain into perceiving motion even when the person is at rest. This results in brief periods of dizziness and disorientation that usually occur when lying down, turning over, or looking up.

Targeting the Vestibular System with Specific Exercises

Vestibular therapy is a service we offer to help patients with BPPV and other disorders that cause:

  • vertigo,
  • dizziness, and
  • balance problems.

Each vestibular therapy program is unique depending on which condition is present, but the goal is always to help patients restore their balance and navigate their surroundings more easily.

In each case we start by evaluating all areas of the body associated with balance to determine what condition is present and the degree of impairment. From there, we typically prescribe gaze stabilization exercises, which are designed to keep vision steady while making rapid side-to-side head turns and focusing on an object. This is intended to help the brain adapt to new signaling from the vestibular system.

What We Often Include When Performing Vestibular Therapy in Our Visalia or Hanford Offices

We also frequently prescribe balance retraining exercises, which involve shifting one’s body weight in various directions while standing to improve how information is sent to the brain, and a home-exercise program to help build on the gains made within our clinic

The effectiveness of physical therapy interventions for older patients with vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders was evaluated in a recent systematic review, which is a robust review of all available medical literature on the topic. This review identified 22 relevant studies and concluded with the following statement after completing its analysis of these studies:

Vestibular rehabilitation in any variation seems to be effective in treating for older adults with vertigo, dizziness, and balance disorders

Come see us to get started on your vestibular therapy program

Therefore, if you’re dealing with a balance issue of any sort, regardless of your age, we strongly recommend coming in for a visit. Our physical therapists can help get to the root of your problem and start you on your way to a more stable life in which impaired balance is no longer a hindrance.

Call Bacci & Glinn Physical Therapy at 559-733-2478 (Visalia) or 559-582-1027 (Hanford) to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment today.

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