Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Balance WorksSymptomsCausesWho’s at RiskImbalance While WalkingDiagnosisTreatmentImproving BalanceWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Balance Works
Symptoms
Causes
Who’s at Risk
Imbalance While Walking
Diagnosis
Treatment
Improving Balance
When to See a Provider
Balance problems can disrupt daily activities, making it difficult to walk or move without feeling unsteady. These problems often arise from issues in the inner ear or brain or from having low blood pressure. Symptoms can include dizziness, a spinning sensation, or feeling light-headed.
While many balance issues are harmless and temporary, persistent problems require medical attention to identify underlying causes and appropriate treatments.
This article discusses potential causes, symptoms, and treatment of balance problems.
FG Trade / Getty Images
How Does the Sense of Balance Work?
The ear plays a key role in hearing and balance. Thevestibular systemin theinner earis crucial for maintaining equilibrium. This system includes three semicircular canals and two otolith organs located beneath the canals. Each semicircular canal is filled with fluid and ends in the ampulla, which contains sensory hair cells.
When the head moves, the fluid in these canals moves too, but a bit slower. This movement bends the sensory hair cells, telling the brain which way your head is moving—up or down, left or right, or turning around.
The otolith organs, embedded with sensory hair cells in a gel-like membrane with small crystals, detect movements like falling, riding an elevator, or accelerating in a car. One otolith organ senses forward, backward, or sideways movement, while the other detects up and down movements.
The brain processes this information and sends it to other organs, like the eyes and muscles, helping us maintain balance and understand our body’s position. Sometimes, conflicting messages from the vestibular system and other senses, like vision, can cause dizziness or nausea.
Symptoms of Balance Problems
If you have a balance disorder, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms.
Neurological and Inner Ear Issues
Physical Injuries
Injuries to the body can also affect balance. Common examples include broken bones in the feet, legs, back, or neck.Concussionsor othertraumatic brain injuriescan disrupt the brain’s ability to process balance information.
In addition, medications you take for pain management of your injuries could also lead to balance issues.
Potential Causes of Balance Problems
The following are potential causes of balance problems:
Vertigo
Peripheral Vertigo
Central Vertigo
Central vertigo results from problems within the brain, particularly in regions like the brain stem or cerebellum. Causes of central vertigo are:
Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, can impair the brain’s ability to coordinate balance, leading to dizziness and unsteadiness.
Dizziness, or a sense of imbalance, is common following a brain injury due to disruptions to the vestibular system. Trained physical therapists who specialize in evaluating balance issues can tailor a rehabilitation plan based on your symptoms. If your symptoms persist, your healthcare provider can prescribe medications to relieve discomfort and improve your condition.
Spinal Cord Injury
Damage to the spinal cord can disrupt the transmission of signals between the brain and the body, affecting balance and movement.
Spinal cord injury can cause several symptoms that affect balance, including:
Chronic Medical Conditions
Conditions like Parkinson’s disease, MS, and diabetes can affect the nervous system and lead to balance problems.
Parkinson’s diseaseis a neurodegenerative disorder that affects movement and motor control. One of its hallmark symptoms is postural instability. With Parkinson’s, individuals may experience difficulty maintaining their balance while standing or walking. This instability can increase the risk of falls and impact daily activities.
Multiple sclerosisis an autoimmune condition that targets the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. MS can cause damage to the nerves responsible for coordinating movement and balance. As a result, people with MS may encounter issues with balance, coordination, and gait (manner in which a person walks), affecting their mobility and stability.
Stroke
Astrokecan damage parts of the brain responsible for balance and coordination, resulting in dizziness and difficulty walking.
Strokes may also lead to one-sided body weakness, making balance difficult. This can affect sitting up, standing, and walking, causing foot drop and an increased risk of tripping. Fatigue may also contribute to feelings of instability.
Migraine
Vestibular migraine is a specific type of migraine that involves symptoms beyond the typical headache.
Age
As people age, natural changes in the vestibular system, vision, and muscle strength can lead to balance problems. People over the age of 75 tend to have higher rates of balance disorders than younger people.
Medication
Dizziness and balance problems are side effects of some medications, including:
Who Is at Risk of Balance Problems?
Balance problems can affect anyone, but certain factors increase the risk, including:
What Causes Loss of Balance While Walking?
Loss of balance while walking can be due to a variety of factors, including:
How Are Balance Problems Diagnosed?
ENG or VNG Tests
One common test is the electronystagmography (ENG) or videonystagmography (VNG) tests, which measure involuntary eye movements called nystagmus.
During these tests, you’ll sit in a dark room and follow a light with your eyes while your head and body are moved into different positions. Electrodes or special goggles will record your eye movements, helping to identify any abnormal function in your inner ear.
Rotary Chair Test
Another test is the rotary test or rotary chair test, which evaluates how well your eyes and inner ear work together to maintain balance. You’ll sit in a chair that moves back and forth while wearing goggles that track your eye movements.
Posturography
Posturography, or computerized dynamic posturography (CDP), assesses your ability to balance while standing on a platform. This test measures your balance under different conditions, such as with open or closed eyes and while viewing moving images on a screen.
Additional tests may include:
How Are Balance Problems Treated?
The following are treatment options for balance problems:
Home Care
For minor balance problems, home care can be effective. This includes:
Medications
Surgery
How to Improve Your Balance
Improving balance involves a combination of exercises and lifestyle changes:
It is also important to have regular checkups in which your healthcare provider might catch issues early.
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
Contact a healthcare provider if you experience:
Summary
Balance problems can arise from various causes, including inner ear disorders, neurological conditions, and physical injuries. Recognizing the symptoms and risk factors can help you seek appropriate treatment and manage your condition effectively.
Addressing balance issues through home care, medication, or surgery is crucial for maintaining quality of life and preventing falls. Regular checkups and proactive lifestyle changes can also enhance balance and overall health.
24 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Harvard Health Publishing.Easy ways to improve your balance.
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