Balance & Gait Disorders
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Achieve Balance with Physical Therapy Sessions
Feeling off-kilter, or not as stable on your feet as before? Grasping for walls and furnishings for balance? Experiencing joint pain in hips, knees or elsewhere that's altered your stride? You might be dealing with a balance or gait disorder.
Find your footing again! A multitude of factors can throw off your balance and alter your gait, leading to both physical discomfort and mental distress. These disruptions might stem from musculoskeletal or neurological conditions, but there's hope. Physical therapy offers a powerful remedy, capable of markedly diminishing your symptoms or even resolving your issues completely. Don't wait—take the first step towards stability. Reach out to Stride Physical Therapy and secure your appointment now for a steadier tomorrow!
Understanding Balance & Gait Disorders:
Discover the secrets behind your balance and gait mysteries! Often stemming from a symphony of factors, these disorders might arise from a multitude of underlying conditions. At the heart of balance challenges lies the vestibular system—a labyrinth of fluid-filled chambers and intricate sensory nerves nestled in your inner ear. This system, in concert with nerve receptors that waltz across your joints, orchestrates your body's position sense, or "proprioception.” Step into a world of equilibrium where every sense plays its part to perfection!
Discover the common vestibular conditions responsible for balance disorders:
Injuries or health setbacks:
Even when your brain and nervous system sync perfectly, unforeseen injuries, illnesses, or conditions triggering muscle weakness can disrupt your equilibrium, challenging your ability to stand firm.
Neurological Knots!
Face neurological challenges with ease! From Parkinson's to brain injuries or stroke effects, we know balance is key. Rely on us for expert neurological care, your pillar of stability.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).
When small pieces of calcium detach in the inner ear, it disrupts your balance.
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What Sets Balance Apart from Gait Disorders?
Balance and gait disorders are conditions that disrupt your sense of orientation, change the way you walk or run, and make it difficult to stay balanced.
Balance and gait issues are interconnected, yet they differ slightly. Balance problems affect both body and mind, making you feel motion when you're stationary. Joint strength, flexibility, and spatial awareness all physically impact your balance.
Gait disorders affect your walking and running, leading to unnatural movements that often worsen as you get older. Move Forward Physical Therapy states that such disorders are behind 17% of elderly falls.
How can I find relief for my balance or gait disorder?
Physical therapy in Freehold, NJ is your top choice for better balance and walking. Our expert therapists will thoroughly assess your balance, gait, posture, medical background, and symptoms. We’ll then craft a tailored treatment plan just for you, which may involve:
Stretches:
Stretching makes you more flexible and helps you move easier. It helps you react faster and move more smoothly, all while lowering your injury risk. Plus, it stops your muscles from getting overly tight and rigid.
Strengthening exercises:
Our physical therapist will assess you to identify weak spots in your body. You'll receive strengthening exercises to boost muscle power, making movement easier and lowering injury risks.
Vestibular rehabilitation:
Our physical therapy program in Freehold, NJ, enhances your eyesight, nerve function, muscle strength, and overall balance system. Struggling with BPPV? Our therapists will guide you through targeted exercises that shift ear calcium deposits, reducing your vertigo.
Gait retraining exercises:
Gait issues can often be fixed by relearning correct walking methods.
Struggling with balance or walking difficulties? Reach out to Stride Physical Therapy and book a session with our expert therapists. We'll get you walking confidently in no time!
Health Blog
Find Relief for Your Hip and Knee Pain with Physical Therapy
Finding it tough to walk without a limp? Worried that your days of being active are over? Are hip and knee pains making every move unbearable? If hip or knee discomfort is wreaking havoc on your daily life and you're seeking relief without turning to medications or surgeries, there's an alternative.
Physical therapy offers a non-invasive way to lessen the pain in your hips and knees, enhancing the performance of these essential joints. Get in touch with Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ, today to discover how we can assist you in getting back on your feet!
How Physical Therapy Eases Hip and Knee Pain
Once we pinpoint the cause of your hip or knee pain, our physical therapist can recommend strategies to help ease your pain and get you moving comfortably again. We might start with passive exercises where we help move your joint to increase its range of motion without pain. Exercises that ease the load on your joints are also beneficial. For example, swimming or water activity lessens the stress on your hips and knees as they don't have to carry your full weight.
We'll also suggest exercises to tackle your hip or knee pain and improve joint health. Strengthening exercises bolster the muscles and tissues stabilizing your joint, and corrective movements and neuromuscular training teach you how to keep your posture aligned and balanced.
Beyond exercises, our physical therapy includes treatments like heat, ice, and massage to help manage pain and accelerate healing.
Common Causes of Hip and Knee Pain
Hip and knee pain can be caused by a variety of problems. Some of these are related to musculoskeletal misalignment, poor posture, and/or excess weight; others occur as the result of natural aging or unhealthy sports/work habits. Your hip or knee pain may stem from:
Traumatic injuries, such as dislocation of the joint
Postural/alignment issues that throw your body off balance, straining the knees or hips
Runner’s knee, an instability of the kneecap
Osteoarthritis, a painful inflammatory condition involving deteriorated joint cartilage
Tendinitis, or stretched ligaments
Bursitis, an inflammation of the friction-reducing sacs surrounding the joints
Infections
Our physical therapist can often determine the cause of your hip or knee pain from its location. For example, pain along the inside of the hip is more likely to be caused by a problem with the bones or cartilage. Pain along the outer side is typically caused by a problem in the muscles, tendons, or ligaments.
Why Did My Hip and/or Knee Pain Develop?
Your hips and knees play vital roles – the hips support your upper body's weight and your knees support the weight of your body above them. They need to be flexible for activities like walking and running, but this can lead to ongoing hip or knee pain. Pain in these areas can arise slowly from regular wear and tear, or quickly and sharply if you get injured.
Relieve Your Hip and Knee Pain Today
Are you ready to reclaim your pain-free mobility through physical therapy? Contact Stride Physical Therapy in Freehold, NJ, for an appointment! Our dedicated team is here to help you find relief and improve your quality of life.
