Many people experience dizziness in their daily lives. In some cases, these sensations can become so intense that they prevent individuals from completing even basic tasks. These feelings can range from faintness and wooziness to weakness and a general lack of stability. Physical movements, such as walking, standing, or turning the head, often make these sensations worse. In severe cases, the discomfort may lead to nausea, leaving a person unable to move. For some individuals, these symptoms can be debilitating and affect their ability to work, socialize, and maintain an active lifestyle.
What Can Cause Balance Issues?
Our body systems work together to maintain homeostasis, ensuring everything functions as one. Three systems play a key role in helping us stay balanced: the vestibular system, the visual system, and the proprioceptive system.
The visual system helps us understand where the body is in space and how it is moving. The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, contains sensors and canals that detect gravity and motion. When these sensors malfunction, it can lead to balance problems. Additionally, issues with the visual system may make it difficult to determine our position, resulting in lightheadedness.
The proprioceptive system, located in the muscles and joints, also helps us be aware of our surroundings. Weak receptors, especially in the neck muscles, can lead to a poor sense of position.
Several factors can cause balance issues, including inner ear problems, motion sickness, vertigo, poor circulation, infection, injury, or even side effects from medication. At NorCal Brain Center, we are committed to finding the root cause and developing an effective treatment plan for each patient. Addressing these issues early is crucial to preventing long-term complications.
What Therapies Can Help Improve Balance?
We offer a variety of therapies designed to help those struggling with balance and stability problems. Our treatments focus on visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive rehabilitation, depending on the root cause of your symptoms. Each therapy is customized to address the unique needs of each patient.
While symptoms of unsteadiness may feel similar for everyone, their underlying causes vary. Our goal is to identify the specific issue and provide treatments that will have the most positive impact.
