The complex processes that allow you to stand up straight and move gracefully through space are easy to take for granted until your balance starts to slip. Suddenly, trips to the supermarket make you feel unsteady and simple movements become a challenge.
Luckily, the most common causes of balance issues are fairly easy to diagnose in a doctor’s office. Read on to learn more about how private pilates can improve your balance and reduce dizziness.
1. Stress
Everyone feels dizzy or lightheaded at some point, but when it occurs frequently and interferes with daily activities, it can be a sign of an underlying balance disorder.
These disorders can be due to issues with your inner ear or nervous system. They can also be caused by medications or other medical conditions that affect your blood circulation.
Your balance is determined by your eyes, muscles and the vestibular system – a gyroscope mechanism inside your inner ears that detects motion. When these systems send signals to your brain, they help you stay upright and balanced.
If you have a balance disorder, you may feel unsteady or off-kilter, experience a sensation of movement or spinning, and even have trouble going up and down the stairs or falling over easily.
2. Injuries
Your body relies on three primary systems to maintain balance: your vision, the vestibular system in your inner ear and proprioception (the feeling of where your body is in space). Issues with these systems can cause dizziness or a loss of balance.
These issues can be caused by head injuries, medications, inner ear conditions and neurological disorders such as labyrinthitis and mal de debarquement syndrome. They can also be a side effect of some heart conditions.
Untreated balance issues can lead to a lack of activity and weakened muscles, which can make the problem worse over time.
Many people with balance problems avoid movements that trigger dizziness or a sense of imbalance, which can increase their risk of injury. The condition can also cause numbness, drooping of the face and difficulty moving and walking.
3. Poor Posture
Over time, poor posture can affect balance. For example, if one shoulder is higher than the other (often caused by carrying a heavy shoulder bag or having one leg longer than the other) that can cause you to lean to the side when you stand. This imbalance can lead to tightness or pain in the back and neck muscles.
A common result of sitting in a poor posture for extended periods is that you will develop a “forward head and rounded shoulders” position. This can also lead to pain in your upper back.
If you have weak core muscles, they may not support your spine, leading to a slouched or hunched appearance that’s called “tech neck.” This type of poor posture can affect balance by adding to the load on your spine.
4. Poor Vision
Everyone experiences dizziness and loss of balance on occasion, but when this occurs on a regular basis it can be an indicator of an underlying health condition. Some conditions that cause loss of balance include ear infections, head injuries, and certain medications.
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to consult your doctor as soon as possible. They can perform tests to determine what is causing your dizziness and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Studies have shown that Pilates can help improve balance in older adults and may lower the risk of falls. However, more high quality research is needed to confirm these findings.
In the meantime, a combination of strength, stability, flexibility, and posture exercises can be used to increase your balance. They can also help improve your proprioception – the awareness of where your body is in space.
5. Your Vestibular System
Your sense of balance relies on a steady flow of information from your ears, eyes and other parts of your body. When something interferes with this system, you feel unsteady and may experience dizziness or a floating sensation.
Certain inner ear conditions, such as labyrinthitis, can affect your sense of balance. Heart problems, including abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmia) and narrowed or blocked blood vessels, can also reduce your ability to maintain balance.
You may also experience balance problems as a side effect of certain medications. If this is the case, talk to your doctor about switching medications or reducing the dosage. In many cases, the problem will resolve on its own or with treatment. You can also work with your physical therapist to address the balance issue.